Austin Harding

Austin Hunter Harding (born July 16, 1948) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2013 to 2017. Prior to his presidency, he served as governor of Massachusetts (1981–1993) and as attorney general of Massachusetts (1993–1999). A member of the Democratic Party, Harding was known as a "New Democrat", and many of his policies reflected a left-wing political philosophy. He is the husband of U.S. senator, Emma Harding.

Harding was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduating from Saint Anselm College in 1970, he worked as a limousine driver in New York. In 1974, he enrolled in Harvard Law School. After graduating, he became a civil rights attorney and activist. Turning to elective politics, he moved back to New England when he ran for the governor of Massachusetts. Harding received national attention in 1989 after he was the target of an assassination attempt which resulted in the bombing of a Boston street. After he served 3 terms as governor of Massachusetts, he served as attorney general in the state until 1999. In 2012, he was nominated for president after a close primary campaign against Charlie Markson. Harding was elected over Republican John Orwell and was inaugurated alongside David Levy on January 20, 2013.

In 2016, Harding ran for re-election but was beaten in a very close race in the electoral college by republican Richard Kale. The election had many credible claims of interference but Harding conceded and left office on January 20th, 2017.