28 Facts About Chet Culver

Chester John Culver was born on January 25,1966 and is an American politician who served from 2007 through 2011 as the 41st governor of Iowa.

Chet Culver was elected governor in the 2006 Iowa gubernatorial election and ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 2010, losing to Terry Branstad.

Chet Culver was elected as the federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association, serving from 2008 to 2009.

Chet Culver founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011 after he left public office.

Chet Culver 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.

Chet Culver was born in Washington, DC He is the son of Ann and John Chet Culver, a former US senator.

Chet Culver studied at Virginia Tech on a football scholarship, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1988.

Chet Culver worked with Bonnie Campbell on her 1990 campaign for state attorney general, serving as field director.

Chet Culver had previously worked as a lobbyist under the guidance of Campbell's husband.

From 1991 to 1995, Chet Culver worked as a consumer and environmental advocate in the attorney general's office.

Chet Culver coached sophomore football and eighth-grade boys basketball during his tenure.

In 1998, Chet Culver ran for Secretary of State of Iowa and was elected by 27,262 votes.

Chet Culver was reelected to a second term in 2002 by 106,310 votes.

In 2005, Chet Culver announced his candidacy for Governor of Iowa.

Chet Culver then ran and won against Jim Nussle in the general election by 101,596 votes.

Chet Culver ran unsuccessfully for reelection with incumbent Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge.

Chet Culver was challenged by Republican Terry Branstad, a four-term former governor who was running with State Senator Kim Reynolds.

Chet Culver signed legislation easing limits on types of stem cell research in Iowa.

Chet 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.

Chet Culver touted Iowa as the leading alternative "energy capital of the world".

Chet Culver started a "power fund" to assist with that effort.

Chet Culver founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011 after he left public office.

In 2012, Chet 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.

In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Chet 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.

Chet Culver has bet much of his political future on alternative energy.

Chet Culver is a Presbyterian and has served as an elder.

Chet Culver left the office in 2023 after Democrat Tom Miller lost his re-election bid and the incoming Republican asked for her resignation and that of 18 other staffers.

Chet Culver's wife gave her personal endorsement to John Edwards in the 2008 Iowa Caucus, then a week after Edwards dropped out he endorsed Barack Obama on February 7,2008 in Omaha, Nebraska, as the Democratic nominee in the 2008 presidential election.