Robert D. Fulton

Robert David Fulton (May 13, 1929 – February 21, 2024) was an American politician who briefly served as the 37th governor of Iowa during the first 16 days of 1969, making him the shortest-serving governor of Iowa. He also served as the lieutenant governor of Iowa from 1965 to 1969.

Early life and education

Fulton was born in Waterloo, Iowa, to Lester and Fern Fulton.

Fulton ran for a full term as governor in 1970. He narrowly won the Democratic primary, defeating state representative William J. Gannon with just 47% of the vote. He lost in the general election against Robert Ray, the incumbent governor and Fulton's own successor, by a margin of 51% to 47%.

After leaving the governor's office, Fulton served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.

For the last decade of his life, Fulton resided at Jones Harrison Senior Living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He died on February 21, 2024, in Minneapolis at age 94, of natural causes. At the time of his death, he was the last living former American governor who left office in the 1960s.