Chet Culver
Chet Culver | |
---|---|
41st Governor of Iowa | |
In office January 12, 2007 – January 14, 2011 | |
Lieutenant | Patty Judge |
Preceded by | Tom Vilsack |
Succeeded by | Terry Branstad |
29th Secretary of State of Iowa | |
In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 | |
Governor | Tom Vilsack |
Preceded by | Paul Pate |
Succeeded by | Michael Mauro |
Personal details | |
Born | Chester John Culver January 25, 1966 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Mariclare Thinnes (m. 1993) |
Relations | John Culver (father) |
Education | Virginia Tech (BA) Drake University (MA) |
Chester John Culver (born January 25, 1966) is an American politician who served from 2007 through 2011 as the
He was also elected as the federal Liaison[definition needed] for the Democratic Governors Association, serving from 2008 to 2009. He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011 after he left public office.[1] As of 2024, he is the most recent Governor of Iowa from the Democratic Party. He was appointed to be a member of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation's board of directors in 2012 by President Barack Obama, serving until 2019, and was re-appointed by President Joe Biden on May 23, 2022.[2]
Early life and education
Culver was born in Washington, D.C. He is the son of Ann (née Cooper) and
Career
After college, Culver moved to Iowa and worked as a staff member for the state Democratic Party. He worked with
From 1991 to 1995, Culver worked as a consumer and environmental advocate in the attorney general's office. After completing his master's degree, he took a job as a teacher in
Secretary of state of Iowa
In 1998, Culver ran for Secretary of State of Iowa and won. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Secretary of State in the United States at the time. He was reelected to a second term in 2002 by a large margin. While serving at this post, he created the Iowa Student Political Awareness Club, which attempts to get students motivated to participate in politics when they reach voting age.[6]
Governor of Iowa
In 2005, Culver announced his candidacy for Governor of Iowa.[7] He defeated three opponents in the 2006 primary when he received 39% of the vote to 34% for Mike Blouin, 25% for Ed Fallon, and 1% for Sal Mohamed.[1] Culver then ran and won against Jim Nussle in the general election with 54% of the vote to Nussle's 44%.[2]
Culver ran unsuccessfully for reelection with incumbent Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge. He was challenged by Republican Terry Branstad, a four-term former governor who was running with State Senator Kim Reynolds.[8] Culver received 43% of the vote while Branstad received 53%.[3]
Post-gubernatorial career
He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011 after he left public office.[9]
In 2012, Culver joined the Board of Directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation after being nominated by former President Barack Obama, where he served until 2019.[4] In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Culver to be a member of the board of directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 2022.[10][11] He joined the board on May 23, 2022.
Political positions
Stem cell research
Culver signed legislation easing limits on types of
2008 floods
A September 2008 poll of Iowans found 60% supported Culver's handling of the major floods that struck Iowa and much of the Midwest that year.[14] A year later, Culver and other state elected officials expressed "outrage" at the slow pace of disbursement of federal funding to affected areas.[15][16]
In 2010, Culver proposed a $40 million "disaster relief fund" in the state[17] and declared March 2010 "Flood Awareness Month."[18]
Minimum wage
Culver signed legislation instituting Iowa's first minimum wage increase in a decade in 2007, raising the hourly wage from $5.15 to $7.25.[19]
Alternative energy
Culver touted Iowa as the leading alternative "energy capital of the world".[20] He started a "power fund" to assist with that effort.
The Associated Press wrote,
"Gov. Chet Culver has bet much of his political future on alternative energy. The power fund was a centerpiece of his campaign for governor, and he managed to push the program through the Legislature. Lawmakers have allocated $49.6 million for the effort over the last two years."[21]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican
|
Terry Branstad | 589,828 | 52.86 | +8.2 | |
Democratic
|
Chet Culver (incumbent) | 481,590 | 43.16 | -10.8 | |
Iowa Party | Jonathan Narcisse | 20,747 | 1.28 | n/a | |
Libertarian | Eric Cooper | 14,293 | 1.28 | +0.7 | |
Socialist Workers | David Rosenfeld | 2,730 | 0.24 | +.04 | |
Petition | James Hughes | 3,846 | 0.34 | n/a | |
Write-in | n/a | 2,717 | 0.24 | n/a | |
Majority | 108,238 | ||||
Turnout | 1,047,714 | ||||
Democratic
|
Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic
|
Chet Culver | 565,657 | 54.0 | +1.7 | |
Republican
|
Jim Nussle | 466,757 | 44.6 | +0.1 | |
Green
|
Wendy Barth | 7,722 | 0.7 | -0.7 | |
Libertarian | Kevin Litten | 5,621 | 0.5 | -0.8 | |
Socialist Workers | Mary Martin | 1,957 | 0.2 | n/a | |
Majority | 98,900 | 9.4 | |||
Turnout | 1,052,005 | ||||
Democratic hold
|
Swing |
Personal life
Culver is a
References
- ^ Chet Culver Group (2011). Home page. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
- ^ Akin, Katie. "Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver rejoins Farmer Mac board of directors". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ Dorman, Todd (October 29, 2009). "Culver: competitive spirit translates to political life". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- Project Vote Smart.
- ^ Harder, Amy. "Access Denied". NationalJournal.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ^ Office of Governor Chet Culver. Archived June 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Culver enters race for Governor". Radio Iowa. November 3, 2005. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ Boshart, Rod (November 3, 2010). "Terry Branstad 'ready to lead the charge' as Iowa's governor". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
- ^ Chet Culver Group (2011). Home page. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
- ^ "PN868 — Chester John Culver — Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation". United States Congress. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ "PN1017 — Chester John Culver — Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation". United States Congress. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Key Moments in the Stem-Cell Debate". NPR. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "Culver Calls For Bill Lifting Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban - Omaha News Story - KETV Omaha". Ketv.com. January 25, 2007. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "Iowa Poll: Do flood prevention work now, 63% say | desmoinesregister.com". The Des Moines Register. September 21, 2008. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "Chet Culver (D) - WhoRunsGov.com/The Washington Post". Whorunsgov.com. July 9, 2010. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ Petroski, William. "anger floods". Search.desmoinesregister.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
- ^ "Iowa floods 2010". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ "Flood Awareness Month ~ Rebuild Iowa Office". Rio.iowa.gov. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ Westergard, Cayla (January 2, 2008). "A happy New Year for Iowa's minimum wage". Le Mars Daily Sentinel. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ Dorman, Todd (January 13, 2007). "Culver makes big energy push". Qctimes.com. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ Glover, Mike (May 24, 2009). "TH - Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin Article". Thonline.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ Dorman, Todd (October 22, 2006). "CULVER: Competitive spirit translates to political life". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Dispatch, Jared Strong/Capital. "Incoming Iowa attorney general Brenna Bird tells 19 staffers to resign". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Iowa's first lady backs Edwards". Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ "Iowa Gov. Culver Says he Will Endorse Obama". Time. February 7, 2008. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
External links
- Chet Culver and Patty Judge official campaign site
- Appearances on C-SPAN