He received a law degree from the University of Virginia; while there, he was a member of the Eta chapter of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.

After being elected on the Democratic ticket in 1897 to the Virginia House of Delegates, Walker served one full two-year term, representing Northumberland and Westmoreland counties.

As was typical in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, the Democrats had an overwhelming majority in the state's legislature.

In 1898, Harding was elected to the Virginia Senate for the 34th district, which was then composed of King George, Richmond, Westmoreland, Northumberland, and Lancaster.

With the death of former lieutenant governor and then-senior senator Edward Echols, the office of President pro tempore was vacant.