(CNN) - Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill's 84-year-old mother, Betty Anne Ward McCaskill, died on Monday, the senator from Missouri said in a statement on Monday.
"For some time, mom's health has not been good, and our family takes comfort that she is now at rest," McCaskill wrote. "People all over the state have asked about her, and their prayers and concern have been greatly appreciated."
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
While Betty Anne McCaskill had her own place in politics as the first woman elected to the Columbia, Missouri City Council, she also regularly appeared on the campaign trail and in campaign advertisements.
McCaskill spoke on behalf of health reform at some of her daughter's 2009 health care town hall meetings.
As a mother, McCaskill may have planted the early seeds for her daughter's involvement in politics. "At Halloween in 1960, Betty Anne taught her children to say 'trick or treat and vote for JFK,' as they went door-to-door asking for candy," an obituary distributed by Sen. McCaskill's campaign read.
She is running for reelection to a second term and is being challenged by Republican Rep. Todd Akin, who issued a statement on Monday.
In a statement, Akin said, "Lulli and I want to express our deepest condolences to Claire McCaskill and her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the whole McCaskill family right now."
McCaskill had limited her campaign schedule since her mother's hospitalization in St. Louis earlier this month.
– CNN's Kevin Liptak, Gregory Wallace, and Justin Lear contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
We all need to take a moment and think about the Senator right now. It is never easy to lost a parent.
May your mother rest in peace Sen. McCaskill. God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow
RIP Mrs. Betty Anne..I know you will be watching over your beloved daughter...Thoughts and prayers to the entire Mc Caskill family.
We like to extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Yes, on OBAMA12.
It would be nice to see that this candidate was victorious in her quest for a seat in the senate. Akin, needs to be placed in the category of dinosaur, thus rendering him extinct.
Rest in peace.
My sincere condolences, to Sen. Claire McCaskill & family
Sen. Claire our prays are with you on this sad day.
Deepest sympathy.
sorry ms,mccaskill for your lost. Remember u loved her but god loved her best. Shes with the lord now an i know she is just fine now.
Ms McCaskill our prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Condolences to Sen McCaskill. It sounds like her mother was a politically active lady who taught her daughter well. She had a lot to be proud of. I wish Sen McCaskill good luck in winning next week.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Mothers are the presidents of our fan club; no one loves us so unconditionally more than our mothers. May you find peace and an election night win in honor of your mother. God bless!
My condolinces to the family .
I hope you the best.
Rip Ms. Mscaskill you have paid your dues to the ppl in MO. And you daughter is a beauty lady who like you care for the ppl in MO.
RIP, Mrs Betty Anne McCaskill. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
It's a shame you didn't get to see your daughter win her re-election, but maybe you can watch it from above,
Sorry for your loss Senator McKaskill. Prayers to you and your family.
Deepest sympathy
Sorry about Clair’s loss and that her mother could not see her daughter reelected! You go Claire!