[4] In 2013, McClinton was named Chief Counsel to State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams of the 8th district.

[5] McClinton's volunteer work includes acting as a board member of La Salle University's Alumni Association board of directors and president of La Salle University's African American Alumni Association, acting as a youth minister for ten years, volunteering at the Outreach to Youth and Hand of Compassion American Sign Language Ministry, and serving as secretary to Philadelphia Barrister's Association.

[5] McClinton started her first term in the state legislature after she won a special election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2015, winning 70% of the vote and beating Republican Charles Wilkins.

[6] The special election was held following Ronald Waters' resignation on June 1, 2015 after he pled guilty to cash payments from lobbyists and sentenced to 23 months probation.

[7] She then went on to win reelection in 2016, and was named secretary/treasurer of the Philadelphia County Delegation alongside Maria Donatucci and Jason Dawkins.

[12] On February 28, 2023, McClinton was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, becoming the first woman and second Black person (after K. Leroy Irvis) to hold the post.

[1] As Speaker, McClinton oversaw the bipartisan passage of a law that made breast cancer screenings free to Pennsylvanians.