Aric Putnam

Aric Putnam
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byJerry Relph
Personal details
Born (1972-07-07) July 7, 1972
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, U.S.
PartyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseLaurie Putnam
Children2
EducationSan Francisco State University (BA)
University of Maine (MA)
University of Minnesota (PhD)

Aric Putnam (/ˈɛərɪk ˈpʌtnəm/ AIR-ik PUTT-nəm;[1] born July 7, 1972) 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 parts of Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties in central Minnesota.

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 to California, where he grew up. After graduating from 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. He has been a professor of communications at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University since 2003.[2]

Minnesota State Senate

Putnam was elected in 2020, defeating incumbent Republican Jerry Relph, who died after the election. Putnam was reelected in 2022, beating state representative Tama Theis by roughly 5.5 points.

Putnam lost to Theis in the 2016 and 2018 elections for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A.

Putnam serves on the following committees:[3]

  • Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development (chair)
  • Higher Education (vice chair)
  • Housing and Homelessness Prevention
  • Taxes

Electoral history

Minnesota Senate 14th district election, 2022[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Aric Putnam (incumbent) 15,350 52.29
Republican Tama Theis 13,969 47.58
Write-in 37 0.13
Total votes 29,356 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
Minnesota Senate 14th district election, 2020[5]
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[6]
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[7]
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. ↑ "Senate Members' Pronunciation". Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Senator Aric Putnam". Minnesota Senate DFL. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  4. ↑ "Index - Election Results".
  5. ↑ "2020 Minnesota State Senate District 14 Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  6. ↑ "2018 Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "2016 Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A Election Results". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
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