What does "as a quote, unquote ‘safe incumbent’" mean?

[NewHopeR]

Context:


But, more broadly, the Democrat conceded that his party was playing catch-up in the final two months before Election Day.
“Obviously, I think Republicans mobilized much earlier and I think they were energized months ago, but now you’re starting to see the Democrats match that,” Barrett said.
Moore, in a separate interview, acknowledged that Democrats are now the underdogs.
“We’ve got our work cut out,” she said. “That’s the reason why as a quote, unquote ‘safe incumbent,’ I’m out here working my butt off. I’m in the street every day."

 

[Tdol]

It means that this is what people say about their candidate, but the person speaking does not agree.

 

[5jj]

It's a way of showing in speaking what we can do with quotes in writng:

... That’s the reason why as a "safe incumbent", I’m ...