Mulder was born in Sioux Center, Iowa and grew up on a farm there.
[1][2] He graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1976, going on to obtain a bachelor's degree in political science from Central College in 1980 and a master's degree from University of Colorado Boulder in 1982.
[1][3] Mulder was elected to the Alaska House in 1992, representing Anchorage.
[3] In May 2002, Mulder announced that he would not seek reelection, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
[2] In August of 2018, Mulder received some attention in the media and online for rescuing a porcupine stranded on a rock in the Kenai River.