Martha Coakley | |
---|---|
58th Attorney General of Massachusetts | |
In office January 17, 2007 – January 21, 2015 |
|
Governor |
Deval Patrick Charlie Baker |
Preceded by | Thomas Reilly |
Succeeded by | Maura Healey |
District Attorney of Middlesex County | |
In office January 3, 1999 – January 17, 2007 |
|
Preceded by | Thomas Reilly |
Succeeded by | Gerry Leone |
Personal details | |
Born |
Martha Mary Coakley July 14, 1953 Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Thomas O'Connor |
Alma mater |
Williams College Boston University |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Martha Mary Coakley (born July 14, 1953) is a former Attorney General of Massachusetts. Prior to serving as Attorney General, she was District Attorney of Middlesex County, Massachusetts from 1999 to 2007.
Coakley was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 special election to fill the United States Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy (and held in the interim by Paul G. Kirk). Coakley was defeated 52% to 47% by Republican Scott Brown in what was widely considered an upset. She won reelection as the Attorney General in the 2010 general election. Coakley was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2014, but lost to Republican Charlie Baker.
Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Edward J. and Phyllis E. Coakley. Her father was a World War II and Korean War veteran and small business owner. Her mother was a homemaker. When she was a year old, she and her parents moved to North Adams. There she attended St. Joseph's School and Drury High School, graduating in June 1971.