LINCOLN, Neb. – A Nebraska politician officially kicked off her re-election campaign on Wednesday at the State Capitol.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer made the announcement that she will be seeking a third term.

She was joined by family and several Nebraska politicians, including Gov. Jim Pillen, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, former governors Kay Orr and Dave Heineman, Rep. Don Bacon, and several members of the Nebraska Legislature.

The 72-year-old Fischer touted her seniority as she seeks to become the first three-term U.S. Senator from the state since Jim Exon’s 18-year run from 1979 to 1997.

Fischer and her husband operate a family ranch near Valentine.

She was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012. She had previously served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2005 to 2013.