Chet Culver

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]

Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Governor Culver (right) in 2010

Governor Culver in 2010

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. Culver then ran and won against Jim Nussle in the general election with 54% of the vote to Nussle's 44%.

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%.

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. 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.

Culver signed legislation easing limits on types of stem cell research in Iowa. "The new legislation allows medical researchers to create embryonic stem cells through cloning. While allowing for further research, it prohibits reproductive cloning of humans," according to National Public Radio.[12] Culver said lifting the ban will "give hope to those suffering from diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's." In addition, Culver proposed spending $12.5 million to establish a stem cell research center at the University of Iowa.[13] NPR called it a "Key Moment in the Stem Cell Debate."[12]

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]

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]

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]