Martha Coakley

Martha Coakley

Martha Mary Coakley (born July 14, 1953) is the Attorney General of the Commonwealth 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 special election to fill the seat in the United States Senate held by Senator Paul G. Kirk, who was appointed upon the death of Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy. The special election decided who would fill the remaining three years of Kennedy's term. Coakley was defeated by Republican Scott Brown 52% to 47%, widely considered an upset in Democratic Massachusetts. She won reelection as the Attorney General in the 2010 general election.