Robert Lee Vander Plaats (born April 12, 1963) is an American politician and political activist.

[2] After earning his undergraduate degree, Vander Plaats became a high school teacher and basketball coach.

As the race progressed, he withdrew his candidacy for governor in favor of being Nussle's running mate in the general election.

The Republican candidates were Vander Plaats, state representative Rod Roberts, and former governor Terry Branstad.

Through the new group, the socially conservative organizations planned to play a more influential role in the 2012 Iowa caucus campaigns than in 2007 and 2008, including offering an endorsement for the first time.

In 2018, he published an opinion piece in The New York Times titled "Cruelty at the Border Is Not Justice" in which he characterized the Trump administration family separation policy as "unconscionable" and "inexcusable.

"[21] A July 2023 article by The Wall Street Journal revealed that Vander Plaats "wants someone other than Trump" as the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election.

[26] Vander Plaats wrote a book about him, Light from Lucas: Lessons in Faith from a Fragile Life, which was published by Tyndale House in 2007.