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.[5] During his tenure, Culver received accolades for modernizing the office, increasing voter registration, and ensuring voter accessibility for people with disabilities.

In 2005, Culver announced his candidacy for Governor of Iowa.[6] 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.

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

Culver's 2006 election as Governor of Iowa marked the first time that Democrats simultaneously controlled both the executive and legislative branches of the Government of Iowa since the 1965–1967 session of the Iowa General Assembly. Culver is also the first Democratic Governor of Iowa since Nelson G. Kraschel in 1937 to be elected to succeed another Democrat.

Governor Culver in 2010

Culver ran unsuccessfully for reelection with incumbent Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge. He was challenged by Republican four-term former governor Terry Branstad, who was running with State Senator Kim Reynolds.[7]

One of Culver's first initiatives was to sign 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.[8] Culver said lifting the ban will "give hope to those suffering from diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."

Culver proposed spending $12.5 million to establish a stem cell research center at the University of Iowa.[9] NPR called it a "Key Moment in the Stem Cell Debate."[8]

A September 2008 poll of Iowans found 60% supported Culver's handling of the major floods that struck Iowa and much of the Midwest.[10] A year later, Culver and other state elected officials expressed "outrage" at the slow pace of disbursement of federal funding to affected areas.[11][12]

In 2010, Culver proposed a $40 million "disaster relief fund"[13] and declared March 2010 "Flood Awareness Month."[14]

Culver touted Iowa as the leading alternative "energy capital of the world".[15] He started a "power fund" to assist with that effort. The Associated Press wrote that "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."[16]