Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) said she's seeking a third term from Missouri voters because she needs to be a "check and balance" on Republicans in control of Washington.
McCaskill appeared caught off guard by the radio host Steve Kraske on Friday when he asked her simply, "Why do you want a third term?"
"Some might wonder, 'why aren't two terms enough?'" Kraske said, in a clip flagged by the Washington Examiner.
"I think that's a good question, um, and I—it was probably the circumstances, um, that I found myself in as it related to what's going on in Missouri and in this country," she said. "I think we need a check and we need a balance. Um, you know, I see what's going on in Washington, and while I am not there to fight Donald Trump, I certainly think the check and the balance is important to my state and to the country."
She said when she agreed with Trump on issues, she had no issue saying it, claiming a strong bipartisan reputation. Trump won Missouri handily in 2016 en route to his White House victory, and McCaskill can ill afford to come off as too partisan a Democrat.
"I do think when you look around Missouri, this state has always, I think, benefited from the fact that we have had both parties that have some power, and I think that should continue to be the case," she said.
"After the election of 2016, when the Republicans swept everything, I felt a certain obligation to step up again," she added. "I'm honored to have this job ... I'm hoping that the people of Missouri will agree me with that that check and balance is important."
She is facing Attorney General Josh Hawley (R.) in the 2018 election. Missouri politics have recently been rocked by the resignation of Republican Gov. Eric Greitens, who faced impeachment over allegations of blackmailing his mistress.
McCaskill benefited from a favorable political environment in both of her prior Senate election victories. She won her first term during the Democratic wave of 2006 and faced Rep. Todd Akin (R., Mo.) in her re-election bid in 2012. Akin's campaign fell apart when he said victims of "legitimate rape" were unlikely to become pregnant, causing a widespread outcry.