Chet Culver

Chet Culver

Democratic Party

Prior offices

Governor of Iowa

---

Iowa Secretary of State

---

Education

Bachelor's

State University-Blacksburg, Virginia

Graduate

Drake University

Personal

Religion

Christian: Presbyterian

Profession

Teacher/Lobbyist

float:right;
border:1px solid #FFB81F;
background-color: white;
width: 250px;
font-size: .9em;
margin-bottom:0px;

} .infobox p { margin-bottom: 0; } .widget-row { display: inline-block; width: 100%; margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px; } .widget-row.heading { font-size: 1.2em; } .widget-row.value-only { text-align: center; background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.value-only.white { background-color: #f9f9f9; } .widget-row.value-only.black { background-color: #f9f9f9; color: black; } .widget-row.Democratic { background-color: #003388; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Republican { background-color: red; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Libertarian { background-color: #f9d334; color: black; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Green { background-color: green; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-key { width: 43%; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; } .widget-value { width: 57%; float: right; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; word-wrap: break-word; } .widget-img { width: 150px; display: block; margin: auto; } .clearfix { clear: both; }

Chester John "Chet" Culver (b. January 25 1966, in Washington, D.C.) is a former Governor of Iowa, having won the 2006 election. His assumption of office marked the first time that Democrats simultaneously controlled both the executive and legislative branches of Iowa's state government since the 1965-1967 session of the Iowa General Assembly. Culver was also the first Democratic governor in Iowa since Clyde Herring in 1937 to be elected to succeed another Democrat. Culver sought re-election in 2010 but lost to Republican Terry E. Branstad.

Biography

Culver is the son of former U.S. Senator John Culver, who represented Iowa from 1975-1981 in the Senate. He was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in suburban Maryland, graduating in 1984. After graduation, Culver earned a scholarship to play football at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science. Culver then worked as a lobbyist for two years in 1989 and 1990. The clients of the lobbying firm which employed Culver during this time included the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, Iowa Beef Processors, and Des Moines University.

Culver earned a master's degree in education from Drake University. Culver taught high school in Des Moines, Iowa prior to election as Secretary of State in 1998.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in political science, State University in Blacksburg
• Master's degree in education, Drake University

Political career

Governor of Iowa (2007-2011)

Culver was elected Governor of Iowa in 2006, and took office the following January. He ran for a second term in 2010 but lost to Republican Terry Branstad in the general election on November 2, 2010.

Elections

2014

See also: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2014

Culver considered a comeback bid for Governor of Iowa in 2014. First elected to the post in 2006, Culver served one term before being ousted by Terry E. Branstad (R) in the 2010 election. Culver explored the possibility of a rematch with Branstad, who sought re-election in 2014, but ultimately decided against entering the race during the 2014 electoral cycle.

2010

See also: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2010

Culver sought re-election in 2010 but lost to Republican Terry E. Branstad.

2006

Culver's main opponents for the Democratic nomination were former director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development Mike Blouin and seven term State Representative Ed Fallon. Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge was also running for the nomination, but after she withdrew from the race, she gave her support to Culver and became his running mate. Culver won the Democratic primary with 39% of the vote.

Culver faced Republican Congressman Jim Nussle of Manchester, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election. On November 7, 2006, Culver defeated Nussle in the general election with 54% of the vote while Nussle won 44%, and minor party candidates won 2%. Culver received the endorsement of Planned Parenthood. Nussle proposed a complete ban on abortion without any exceptions.

2009 budget plan

Culver cut state agencies by $520 million and cut his own pay by 10%. Cuts included 180 layoffs and furloughs for over 3,200 state workers.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

He currently resides in West Des Moines, Iowa with his wife Mariclare Thinnes Culver and their two children, Clare Honour and John William. He attends Central Presbyterian church in West Des Moines, where he serves as a church elder.

See also

• Governor of Iowa
• Iowa Secretary of State
• Terry E. Branstad
• Iowa gubernatorial election, 2010
• Iowa gubernatorial election, 2014

External links

• Chut Culver for Governor 2010 campaign website
• Follow the Money - Chet Culver & Patty Judge 2006 campaign contributions
• On the Issues - Chet Culver issue positions and quotes
• Chet Culver on Facebook
• Chet Culver on Twitter
• Chet Culver on YouTube