Aric Putnam

Aric Putnam is an American politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 14 which includes portions of Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties in central Minnesota.

Aric Putnam
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 14th district
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byJerry Relph
Personal details
BornAndrews U.S. Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, MD
Political partyDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse(s)Laurie Putnam
Children2
ResidenceSt. Cloud, Minnesota
Alma materSan Francisco State University
University of Maine
University of Minnesota
OccupationProfessor

Early life, education, and career

Putnam was born on Andrews Air Force Base while his father fought in the Vietnam War. After returning, his family moved cross country to California where he grew up. After graduating high school, Putnam earned his B.A. at San Francisco State University. He later moved to Maine where he completed his M.A. at the University of Maine. In the late 1990s, Putnam moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he completed his PhD at the University of Minnesota. Afterwards he became a professor of communications at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, where he has been since 2003.[1]

Minnesota State Senate

Putnam was elected in 2020 after he defeated incumbent Republican Jerry Relph who later died after the election. He was an unsuccessful candidate for District 14A of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 and 2018 against Republican incumbent Tama Theis.

Putnam currently serves on the following committees:[2]

  • Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
  • Higher Education Finance and Policy
  • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy

Electoral History
Minnesota Senate 14th district election, 2020[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Aric Putnam 18,318 46.39
Republican Jerry Relph (incumbent) 18,002 45.59
Legal Marijuana Now Jaden Partlow 3,127 7.92
Write-in 41 0.10
Total votes 39,488 100.0
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican
Minnesota House of Representatives 14A district election, 2018[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tama Theis (incumbent) 9,079 52.10
Democratic (DFL) Aric Putnam 8,348 47.90
Write-in 3 0.02
Total votes 17,430 100.0
Republican hold
Minnesota House of Representatives 14A district election, 2016[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tama Theis (incumbent) 10,961 54.65
Democratic (DFL) Aric Putnam 9,059 45.17
Write-in 37 0.18
Total votes 20,057 100.0
Republican hold

References
  1. "Senator Aric Putnam". Minnesota Senate DFL. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  3. "2020 Minnesota State Senate District 14 Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. "2018 Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  5. "2016 Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
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