Lieutenant governor candidate’s parents say he owes them $275K in unpaid farm rent: report

BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa (Gray News) - The parents of a Republican lieutenant governor candidate in Iowa are reportedly claiming that he owes them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

KCCI reports that court documents filed in Black Hawk County show Derek Wulf’s parents, Duane and Jackie Wulf, say their son owes them around $275,000 in unpaid farmland rent since 2024.

The petition was reportedly filed as the parents try to protect their assets as a bank seeks to foreclose on Derek Wulf’s other unpaid debts.

Matt Craft, the attorney representing Derek Wulf’s parents, said the legal petition was filed just weeks before the election because of an Oct. 20 filing deadline.

“The judge in Derek’s foreclosure case required anyone who claimed ownership or a lien on Derek’s farm assets to speak now or forever hold their peace if they claim any ownership or interest in those seized assets,” the attorney said in a statement.

Craft added that the family has been working to privately resolve this issue for a long time.

“They are very private individuals and are embarrassed at the mess this has caused many good people in a very public way,” the attorney’s statement continued.

The Zach Lahn for governor campaign was said to not have immediately responded to requests for comment regarding his running mate’s situation.