McNally was born and raised in Youngstown and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1987.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1991 and a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in 1996.
He was elected twice as Mahoning County Commissioner before retiring from that office in order to run for Mayor of Youngstown.
[2] He pleaded guilty to these charges February 26, 2016 in a deal that allowed him to remain Mayor of Youngstown.
[3] On May 2, 2017, McNally lost to Jamael Tito Brown in the Democratic primary election in his bid for re-election.