Martha Coakley was the first woman to serve as Attorney General in the state of Massachusetts, but after 8 years, she’s got her sights set on a bigger prize: the Governor’s mansion. Beyond her experience in the Massachusetts government thus far, what sets Coakley (a Democrat) apart is her dedication to the rights of women. She served as president of the Women’s Bar Association to defend women against violence and she launched a Women’s Leadership Council to improve the lives of Masschusetts females. It’s no shock, of course, that’s she’s gained the endorsements of Emily’s List and Planned Parenthood. Women aren’t the only group that Coakley has impacted during her tenure as attorney general. She was also the only state attorney general to challenge the now-struck-down Defense of Marriage Act.