Martin was born and raised in Cheney in the Washington Territory. He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1906, and joined his father in running the Cheney Grain and Milling Company. From 1928 to 1936 Martin was the mayor of Cheney. While still in office, he ran for and was elected in 1932 as governor of the state of Washington. He was known as the "people's governor" for his strict frugality in government spending, but he also oversaw large economic projects, such as the Grand Coulee Dam in the North Cascades, to put people to work during the Great Depression.