Will lack of a voting record help McGinty’s U.S. Senate bid?

(Lancaster) — Since World War II, Pennsylvania has only elected one U.S. Senator who did not previously hold another elective office.

That puts the odds against Democratic candidate Katie McGinty, but her lack of a voting record could also be used to her advantage this cycle.

As the political ads start to fly over commonwealth’s closely-watched U.S. Senate race.

Republican incumbent Pat Toomey’s voting record is sure to be picked apart  by opponents.

Democratic challenger Katie McGinty has held a series of political appointments, most recently as Chief of Staff for Governor Tom Wolf.

So, she doesn’t have a simliar record, but can still argue she has a lot of experience in government.

However, such experience opens her up to be painted as a bureaucrat, says political analyst Dr. Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster.

“Ultimately, candidates have to defend what they’ve done. They have to defend their records, they have to defend their jobs, their employment,” he said. “They have to get the positives out, if they can get them out.”

Madonna says he expects to see a lot more of those positive and negative arguments unfold in ads as the November election draws nearer.