Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Chesco Dem chair set to step down
Brian McGinnis: County party, candidates in great shape for upcoming midterm
WEST CHESTER » As county Democrats are riding high following historic victories in local elections last year, Chester County Democratic Committee Chair Brian J. McGinnis has decided it’s time to go out on a high note. He made a surprise announcement to a packed auditorium filled with CCDC leadership last week that he would not seek a second term.
McGinnis said he plans to focus on his professional career. He has been employed at the Vanguard Group for 11 years and currently works as a relationship consultant for ultrahigh net-worth investors. He said he will still be an active supporter of local Democrats, and he believes the party is well-positioned for success in this year’s midterm elections.
“I’m leaving the party in great shape financially and with a lot of momentum towards the 2018 elections,” he said.
The party also purchased a permanent headquarters at 37 S. High Street in the heart of West Chester last year.
With a war chest of new donors and increased activism, McGinnis sees a great slate of quality state House candidates ready to break barriers, again, in Chester County.
It’s only been a few months since four Democrats, all of whom are women, had unexpected victories in all four county row offices on the ballot in November – controller, treasurer, coroner and clerk of courts – marking the first time in the county’s history a Democrat was elected to a countywide row office position.
McGinnis also gave credit to the numerous people involved in the party who helped make Democrats’ goals a reality.
“I’m very appreciative of the support of so many wonderful people within the organization,” McGinnis said. “This committee worked extremely hard regarding the history we made in 2017. This year, and going forward to 2020, promise to be just as competitive and exciting.
“I will stay active within the party as a fundraiser and liaison to building trades unions. I’m looking forward to a smooth transition to the new officers elected at our June reorganization meeting. I’m con-
fident they will be able to build on the momentum that was created.”
McGinnis, who’s originally from Scranton but has lived in the West Chester area most of his life, officially became involved with county Democrats in 2004, when he began working for John Kerry’s presidential campaign. Prior to that, he had just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from West Chester University and was working at Acme, when he was recruited by county Democratic Secretary Pat Splane.
McGinnis has been the chair of the CCDC since June 2014, and during that time, Democratic candidates have won several elections from municipal to the statewide level. He said that since then, more than 200 Democrats have been elected to local offices, and the party set fundraising goals in 2016 and 2017. In addition to Democrats winning county row office elections last year, some of the highlights of his tenure were helping elect three Democratic justices to the state Supreme Court in 2015 and helping Democrats sweep the statewide row office elections – attorney general, auditor general and treasurer – in 2016, he added.
Although Donald Trump narrowly won the state of Pennsylvania in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton won Chester County, which is only the third time in modern history a Democratic presidential candidate carried the county, McGinnis noted. Also in 2016, Democratic West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta was victorious in her bid to represent the 156th state House District after a close election that went to a recount.
Democrats are hopeful that the changing demographics in Chester County and an increase in voter turnout will help their candidates in the coming elections.
On the line this year are the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress seats in addition to a dozen Harrisburg-bound slots.
Chester County’s congressional race is expected to be more competitive this year, after Pennsylvania’s congressional map was thrown out by the state Supreme Court as being unconstitutionally gerrymandered. A new congressional map drawn by the court places all of Chester County and part of Berks County in the 6th District.
Independent political newsletters, The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball, have rated the new 6th District as a “toss-up,” as opposed to its old rating of “lean Republican.”
McGinnis said he’s cautiously optimistic about Democratic candidates’ odds in this year’s elections. “I think we have great candidates,” he said. “We have the better ideas and we have the better values, so we just need to capitalize on that.
“As long as the candidates and the committee work hard, we can do great things together.”
He said some of the goals Democrats in Chester County and across Pennsylvania will be working toward are: ensuring quality health care and public education, raising the minimum wage, and protecting the rights of all citizens in the commonwealth.
McGinnis thanked his family for supporting him throughout his time with the CCDC.
As anyone who has run for office knows, the on-demand lifestyle is not easy, and working behind-thescenes, as a party leader, is the same, he said.
“I am very blessed to have my two biggest supporters by my side every step of the way in my mom and dad,” McGinnis said. “Being in public life isn’t easy but they have kept me grounded. Their unconditional love and support was a big key in my success.”
McGinnis will continue to steer the county Democrats through the May primaries and oversee the June election of the next four-year administration.
Follow Digital First Media staff writer Lucas M. Rodgers on Twitter @ LucasMRodgers and on Facebook at www.facebook. com/lucasmrodgers.