| Richard Mulder | |
| State House: | Minnesota |
| District: | 21B |
| Term Start: | January 3, 1995 |
| Term End: | January 6, 2003 |
| Predecessor: | Andy Steensma |
| Successor: | Brad Finstad |
| Birth Date: | 8 May 1938 |
| Birth Place: | Rock Valley, Iowa, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Ivanhoe, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Children: | 4 |
| Education: | University of South Dakota (BPharm) South Dakota State University (BM) University of Iowa (MD) |
Richard Dean Mulder (May 8, 1938 – February 14, 2022) was an American politician and family physician in the state of Minnesota. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995 until 2002.[1]
In 2004, he served as a Minnesota state delegate at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York.[2]
Mulder was born and raised in Rock Valley, Iowa, along with four siblings.[3] He graduated from Rock Valley Public High School in 1956, and then attended South Dakota State University, graduating with a Bachelor's in Pharmacy in 1960. He later received a Bachelor's in Medicine from University of South Dakota in 1966, and later graduated with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Iowa in 1969.
Mulder ran unsuccessfully as an Independent Republican candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992.[4] Running again with the party in 1994, Mulder won the District 21B election over Democratic incumbent Andy Steensma, 7,198 votes to 6,261.[5]
In 1996, Mulder defended a state law supporting the practice of "drive-through" infant deliveries, saying "I made sure my wife stayed in the hospital five days, but then she told me it was a waste of money... I did some research and found that many mothers couldn't accord the longer stay and in most cases, it just wasn't necessary."[6]
In 1998, he was given a 100% rating by Gun Owners of America.[7]
Mulder died at his home in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, on February 14, 2022, at the age of 83.[8]