Robert D. Fulton

Robert David Fulton (born May 13, 1929) was a career politician who briefly served as Governor of the U.S. state of Iowa for the first 16 days of 1969.

Fulton was born in Waterloo, Iowa. A Democrat, he served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1958 to 1960, followed by a term as a member of the Iowa Senate from 1962 to 1964. He then became the running mate of Iowa governor Harold Hughes, and with Hughes reelection in 1964, Fulton became Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. Fulton served as Lt. Governor from January 17, 1964 to January 1, 1969. Fulton then briefly served as Governor from January 1 to January 16, 1969 following the election of Governor Hughes to the United States Senate. Fulton would become the last Democrat to serve as Governor of Iowa until the 1999 inauguration of Tom Vilsack as Governor.

The office of Iowa governor was taken over by Robert D. Ray on January 16. Ray had won the gubernatorial election in November 1968, but, as per the state constitution, was not eligible to assume the role of governor until that day.

Fulton ran for a full term as governor in 1970, but was defeated by Robert Ray. 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.