US Senate hopeful McGinty forced to explain claim of 1st in college

HARRISBURG, PA (AP) - The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania has said on the campaign trail that she is the first in her family to go to college. But an online news site reports a brother graduated from college years before her.

Katie McGinty's brother attended La Salle University before she went to St. Joseph's University in 1981.

In January, McGinty told The Associated Press she was "the ninth of 10 kids and the first in my family to go to college." Her Facebook site repeats the claim. Her campaign website says she was the first to go to a "four-year college."

Buzzfeed reported Tuesday that McGinty's brother graduated from La Salle in 1973. McGinty's campaign told Buzzfeed that her brother completed a two-year program then applied the credits to receive his bachelor's degree.

McGinty is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey.