Chester John Culver

Chester John Culver

Current 41st Governor of Iowa
Date of Birth: 25.01.1966
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Chester John Culver
  2. Education and Early Career
  3. Secretary of State
  4. 2006 Gubernatorial Election
  5. Governor of Iowa
  6. Personal Life
  7. National Recognition

Chester John Culver

Chester John "Chet" Culver was born on January 25, 1966, in Washington, D.C. He is a Presbyterian and has served as a pastor.

Chester John Culver

Education and Early Career

Culver graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Drake University in 1994.

Chester John Culver

He moved to Iowa and worked as a staff member for the Iowa Democratic Party. He worked with Bonnie Campbell in her 1999 campaign for state attorney general and was a lobbyist under Campbell's husband. Culver later became a teacher in Des Moines.

Secretary of State

In 1998, at the age of 32, Culver was elected Iowa's youngest-ever Secretary of State. He was re-elected in 2002 by a landslide.

2006 Gubernatorial Election

In the Democratic primary, Culver faced a competitive race against former Iowa Department of Economic Development Director Mike Blouin and State Representative Ed Fallon. He won the primary with 39% of the vote, boosted by the endorsement of Patty Judge.

Culver faced Republican Congressman Jim Nussle in the general election and won by a narrow margin of 1.4% on November 7, 2006.

Governor of Iowa

As governor, Culver signed into law an expansion of stem cell research in Iowa. "This is about providing hope for Iowans who suffer from diseases like cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's," he said.

He also promoted Iowa as a leading alternative energy capital of the world.

Personal Life

Culver is married to MaryClaire. His father, John Culver, was a former U.S. Senator from Iowa.

National Recognition

Culver was elected federal mediator of the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009.

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