Claire McCaskill Biography Quotes 2 Report mistakes
| 2 Quotes | |
| Occup. | Politician |
| From | USA |
| Born | July 24, 1953 Rolla, Missouri, United States |
| Age | 72 years |
Claire Conner McCaskill was born on July 24, 1953, in Rolla, Missouri, and grew up largely in Columbia. She attended public schools and graduated from the University of Missouri, earning an undergraduate degree in 1975 and a law degree in 1978. The Midwest community ethos of volunteerism, fiscal prudence, and straight talk that shaped her family life carried into her public career. Her parents encouraged civic engagement; her mother, Betty Anne, was especially influential in teaching her that political life could be both practical and compassionate.
Entry Into Public Service
After law school, McCaskill began her career in the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office in the Kansas City area, gaining ground-level experience with victim services, narcotics, and domestic violence cases. She entered the Missouri House of Representatives in 1983, serving three terms through 1989. In the state legislature she developed a reputation as a pragmatic Democrat focused on consumer issues and responsible budgeting, working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and learning the mechanics of statewide policy.
Jackson County Prosecutor
In 1993, McCaskill became the first woman to serve as Jackson County Prosecutor. She prioritized victim-centered approaches, courtroom professionalism, and modern management in a busy urban office. Her work with local law enforcement and community leaders aimed to reduce violent crime and improve coordination among agencies. The prosecutor's role gave her executive experience and a public profile beyond the courtroom, laying the groundwork for statewide office.
State Auditor of Missouri
Elected Missouri State Auditor in 1998 and taking office in 1999, McCaskill served two terms through early 2007. She led audits that highlighted waste, mismanagement, and the need for stronger controls in programs that touched nearly every corner of state government. Her approach often put her at odds with powerful figures in both parties, including Governor Bob Holden, Attorney General Jay Nixon, and later Governor Matt Blunt, when audits scrutinized their agencies or priorities. That independence became central to her political brand.
2004 Gubernatorial Campaign
In 2004, McCaskill mounted a rare and high-stakes challenge within her own party, defeating incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the Democratic primary. She lost the general election to Republican Matt Blunt, son of longtime Missouri political figure Roy Blunt. The campaign introduced her to voters statewide and demonstrated her willingness to confront entrenched power, even at political cost. After the loss, she completed her term as auditor.
United States Senate
In 2006, McCaskill defeated incumbent Republican Senator Jim Talent, becoming the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Missouri. She served two terms, from 2007 to 2019. In the Senate she joined the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee, among others, and worked closely with chairs and ranking members such as Joe Lieberman, Tom Carper, and Tom Coburn on oversight and accountability. She co-sponsored the creation of the bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting with Senator Jim Webb to curb fraud and waste in Iraq and Afghanistan. With Majority Leader Harry Reid, she secured positions that allowed her to push for stronger watchdog functions across federal agencies.
Key Issues and Legislative Work
McCaskill became one of the Senate's most visible watchdogs on contracting. She pursued investigations into cost overruns, lax oversight, and conflicts of interest, pressing the Pentagon and major contractors to account for taxpayer dollars. She supported ethics and transparency measures, including the STOCK Act, and frequently worked across party lines with colleagues such as Coburn, Rob Portman, and Ron Johnson to strengthen federal oversight.
On public safety and justice, she took a leading role in reforming how the military handles sexual assault. She opposed removing such cases entirely from the chain of command, instead advancing reforms to limit commanders' ability to overturn convictions, strengthen protections for victims, and professionalize prosecution and defense within the services. Beyond the military, she worked with senators including Kirsten Gillibrand and Kelly Ayotte on campus sexual assault legislation intended to improve reporting, support survivors, and increase accountability at colleges and universities.
Campaigns and Political Style
A centrist Democrat, McCaskill cultivated a plain-spoken, data-driven style with an emphasis on town halls and constituent services. In 2008 she was an early and prominent supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign, serving as a national co-chair and helping build his coalition in the Midwest. She won reelection in 2012 after defeating Republican Todd Akin, whose remarks about rape drew national attention and condemnation; her campaign strategy and message discipline in that race became a case study in political tactics. In 2018, amid a shifting political climate in Missouri, she lost her seat to Republican Josh Hawley after a hard-fought campaign that centered on health care, judicial nominations, and the direction of national politics.
Family and Personal Life
McCaskill's life has been closely knit with family. Her mother, Betty Anne, was a steady presence on the campaign trail and a touchstone in McCaskill's public storytelling. McCaskill has three children and, through her marriage to businessman Joseph Shepard, stepchildren as well. Earlier, she was married to David Exposito; their marriage ended, and in 2006 Exposito was killed in Kansas City, a personal tragedy that unfolded just as her first Senate campaign entered its final stretch. With Shepard she navigated public scrutiny of their finances and business interests, responding to questions that frequently arise for public officials whose spouses have complex portfolios.
Later Career and Public Commentary
After the Senate, McCaskill became a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, bringing her oversight background and Midwestern perspective to discussions of Congress, campaigns, and governance. She also authored a memoir, Plenty Ladylike, reflecting on her upbringing, the lessons of losing and winning statewide races, and the balance between candor and caution in public life. She remains engaged in debates about accountability, the role of Congress in checking the executive, and the challenges facing pragmatic moderates in a polarized era.
Legacy
Claire McCaskill's career bridges local prosecution, statewide auditing, and national oversight. As the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Missouri, she helped normalize women's leadership in a state with a long, male-dominated political tradition, following the appointed service of Jean Carnahan and often partnering or sparring with figures such as Jim Talent, Todd Akin, Josh Hawley, Bob Holden, Matt Blunt, Roy Blunt, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama. Her enduring imprint lies in rigorous oversight of public spending, her willingness to challenge both allies and opponents, and a political style grounded in accessibility and accountability to Missouri voters.
Our collection contains 2 quotes who is written by Claire, under the main topics: Freedom - Decision-Making.
Other people realated to Claire: Ike Skelton (Politician), Christopher Bond (Politician), Kit Bond (Politician), Gerald Walpin (Public Servant)