Walter M. Pierce began his career in education, teaching school at a young age before moving into administrative roles in public education. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree, which laid the groundwork for his subsequent roles in public service and law. Pierce transitioned into politics, serving in the Oregon State Senate and later as Governor of Oregon, where he championed education subsidies, eugenics, and Prohibition. He also held various board positions and business ventures, including managing a power company and speculating in land. Despite legal challenges and electoral defeats, Pierce remained active in public service until his retirement from politics.

Walter M. Pierce's political identity is marked by a curious blend of progressive social policies and regressive racial ideologies. His advocacy for state subsidies in education and birth control juxtaposes sharply with his support for eugenics and opposition to anti-lynching laws. Pierce's endorsement of the Ku Klux Klan's Compulsory School Act and his involvement in the anti-Japanese movement further complicate his ideological stance, revealing a complex and often contradictory political persona.