Hudson’s Derek Wulf selected as GOP lieutenant governor nominee

A Hudson graduate and state lawmaker has been selected to join Iowa’s Republican ticket for governor.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn announced Friday that State Rep. Derek Wulf of Hudson has been selected as his nominee for lieutenant governor.

Wulf represents Iowa House District 76 and is serving his second term in the Iowa House. He also serves as chair of the House Agriculture Committee.

A farmer and rancher, Wulf previously worked as a swine nutrition and production specialist for Cargill Inc. He is a graduate of Hudson High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University.

Born in 1981 in rural Black Hawk County, Wulf was raised in Hudson and continues to reside in the community with his wife, Dresden, and their two daughters. He is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hudson.

During his time in the Legislature, Wulf was involved in efforts related to Iowa’s public notice laws and local newspapers. In 2024, Wulf worked with representatives from the Iowa Newspaper Association and local newspaper advocates as lawmakers considered legislation affecting how public notices are published and accessed. The legislation ultimately preserved a role for Iowa newspapers in the public notice process.

Wulf became a co-owner of the Hudson Herald in 2025, after the public notice legislation referenced in this article was passed.

Additional details regarding the campaign and upcoming appearances are expected to be released by the Lahn campaign.