Adam Putnam

{{Short description|American politician (born 1974)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Adam Putnam

|image = Adam Putnam (cropped 1).jpg

|caption = Official portrait, 2011

|office = 11th Florida Commissioner of Agriculture

|governor = Rick Scott

|term_start = January 4, 2011

|term_end = January 8, 2019

|predecessor = Charles Bronson

|successor = Nikki Fried

|office1 = Chair of the House Republican Conference

|leader1 = John Boehner

|1blankname1 = Vice Chair

|1namedata1 = Kay Granger

|term_start1 = January 3, 2007

|term_end1 = January 3, 2009

|predecessor1 = Deborah Pryce

|successor1 = Mike Pence

|office2 = Chair of the House Republican Policy Committee

|leader2 = Dennis Hastert

|term_start2 = February 1, 2006

|term_end2 = January 3, 2007

|predecessor2 = John Shadegg

|successor2 = Thad McCotter

|state3 = Florida

|district3 = {{ushr|FL|12|12th}}

|term_start3 = January 3, 2001

|term_end3 = January 3, 2011

|predecessor3 = Charles Canady

|successor3 = Dennis Ross

|state_house4 = Florida

|district4 = 63rd

|term_start4 = November 5, 1996

|term_end4 = November 7, 2000

|predecessor4 = Dean Saunders{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2018 |title=House of Representatives |url=http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095046/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html |archive-date=January 13, 2018 |access-date=August 10, 2021 }}

|successor4 = Dennis Ross

|birth_name = Adam Hughes Putnam

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|7|31}}

|birth_place = Bartow, Florida, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse = Melissa Putnam

|children = 4

|parents = Sarah Hughes Putnam
William Dudley Putnam II

|education = University of Florida (BS)

|website = {{URL|adamputnam.com|Official website}}

}}

Adam Hughes Putnam (born July 31, 1974) is an American politician and conservationist who served as the 11th Florida commissioner of agriculture from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms, representing the Central Florida-based 12th congressional district from 2001 to 2011.

Born and raised in Bartow, Florida to a Florida cracker family, Putnam graduated from the University of Florida in 1996. That same year, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives at the age of 22, the youngest person ever elected to the Florida Legislature. After the retirement of Charles Canady in 2000, Putnam was elected to the United States Congress at the age of 26, serving as Baby of the House from 2001 to 2005. He later chaired the House Republican Policy Committee from 2006 to 2007 and the House Republican Conference from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, Putnam was elected to the Florida Cabinet as state agriculture commissioner and was re-elected in 2014.

In May 2017, Putnam announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida in the 2018 election. He was initially considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, but lost the primary to then-Congressman Ron DeSantis. DeSantis went on to win the general election against Tallahassee mayor and Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20170501/ag-commissioner-adam-putnam-running-for-governor|title=Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam running for governor|last=Bouffard|first=Kevin|date=2017-05-01|work=Lakeland Ledger|access-date=2017-05-10|language=en}}

Since 2019, Putnam has been the CEO of Ducks Unlimited.

Early life, education, and early career

File:State Representative Adam Putnam waiting to address a House Committee.jpg committee in 1998]]

Putnam was born in Bartow, Florida, the son of Sarah Elizabeth (née Hughes) and William Dudley Putnam II. He graduated from Bartow High School and attended the University of Florida, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in food and resource economics. He is an Episcopalian.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/wrightstuff/2006/12/religion_in_the_house_by_state.html|title=Religion in the House by state and by faith|last=Whiteside|first=Mary Ann Chick|date=2006-12-16|work=M Live|access-date=2024-07-31}}

In 1996, Putnam was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of Polk County. At 22 years old, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Florida Legislature.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fox25boston.com/news/college-student-becomes-youngest-elected-to-florida-house-of-representatives/466173764|title=College student becomes youngest elected to Florida House of Representatives|last=D'Angelo|first=Bob|date=2016-11-11|work=WFXT|access-date=2017-05-10|language=en-US}} He was reelected to a second term in 1998. While in the state house, he served as chair of the Agriculture Committee.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4127&LegislativeTermId=78|title=Florida House of Representatives - Adam H. Putnam - 1998 - 2000 ( Speaker Thrasher )|website=www.myfloridahouse.gov|access-date=2018-07-26}}

U.S. House of Representatives

File:President George W. Bush Greets Representative Adam Putnam at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida.jpg George W. Bush at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, the day of the September 11 attacks]]

In 2000, Putnam ran for the U.S. House seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Charles Canady. The district, numbered the 12th, included all of Putnam's home constituency as well as other areas of Polk County and rural Central Florida. He faced no opposition in the Republican primary, and defeated Democrat Mike Stedem in the general election, 57 to 43%.{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11/7/2000&DATAMODE=|title=Florida Department of State - 2000 Election Results|website=results.elections.myflorida.com|access-date=2017-05-10}} Taking office when he was 26 years old, Putnam was the youngest member of Congress from 2001 to 2005. Putnam was reelected in 2002 to a redistricted seat that included most of Polk County as well as parts of neighboring Hillsborough and Osceola Counties.{{Cite web|url=http://maps.flsenate.gov/de1/map.html?plan=fl2002_con|title=2002 Congressional Plan|website=maps.flsenate.gov|access-date=2017-05-10}} He was reelected three more times after that, serving a total of ten years in Congress.

=Committee assignments=

=Tenure=

On October 10, 2002, Putnam voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.{{Cite web |title=H.J.Res. 114 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ... -- House Vote #455 -- Oct 10, 2002 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/h455 |access-date=2021-08-10 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}

In February 2006, Putnam became a member of the House leadership, assuming the role of chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, the fifth-ranking Republican leadership position in the House. In November 2006, Putnam was elected by his colleagues as House Republican Conference Chairman, the third-highest ranking position.{{Cite news |title=CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker |url=http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/11/putnam-gets-no-3-house-gop-leadership.html |access-date=2021-08-10}} Following House Republican losses in the 2008 general election, he resigned his post as Conference Chairman. In 2010 The Florida Independent reported that Putnam had earmarked $100,000 for an abscission chemical used in citrus harvesting that The Florida Independent said would benefit his family's citrus business.{{Cite news |title=Florida Independent Business Finance Legal & Health News |language=en-US |url=https://floridaindependent.com/ |access-date=2021-08-10}}

Putnam was a signatory to the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.{{Cite web |date=2009-04-23 |title=Americans for Tax Reform |url=http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423113913/http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851 |archive-date=April 23, 2009 |access-date=August 10, 2021 }} The American Conservative Union gave him a 91% evaluation.

=Gonzales' ouster=

After the numerous calls by Democrats, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Putnam became the top Republican in either house to call for the ouster of then U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. "For the good of the nation, I think it is time for fresh leadership at the Department of Justice", Putnam said.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Donna |date=2007-04-20 |title=House Republican leader says Gonzales should go |language=en |work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-prosecutors-idUSN2037773620070420 |access-date=2021-08-10}} This was met with surprise by many Republicans, who were remaining silent on the Gonzales issue. However, Putnam mentioned that there remained severe discontent within the GOP circle over Gonzales and as the Chairman of the House Republican Conference, he thought that it was important to send this message out.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services

File:Adam Putnam is sworn in for a second term.jpg in 2015]]

In February 2009, Putnam declared himself a candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the 2010 election and that he would not seek a sixth term in Congress.{{cite news|title=Putnam to give up seat|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Politico|date=2009-02-01|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18249.html|access-date=2009-02-01}} Putnam won the election over Democratic opponent Scott Maddox with 56% of the vote. He was reelected in 2014.

As head of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Putnam was responsible for issuing concealed weapons permits after conducting background checks on applicants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/government/2018/06/11/adam-putnam-addressed-problem-concealed-gun-permit-checks/690766002/|title=Adam Putnam: His agency called for audit that found missing background checks and fired worker|first=Ana|last=Ceballos|website=Naples News}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/06/08/adam-putnams-office-stopped-concealed-weapons-background-checks-for-a-year-because-it-couldnt-log-in/|title=Adam Putnam's office stopped concealed weapons background checks for a year because it couldn't log in|last=Contorno|first=Steve|work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=2018-06-08|language=en-US}} An investigation by the Office of Inspector General found that from February 2016 until May 2017 the department stopped conducting national background checks on applicants for concealed weapons permits, because a worker could not log into an FBI database. More than 100,000 concealed carry permits were issued during this period without full screening. Putnam later said that 365 applicants should have been further backgrounded, and that 291 permits ended up being revoked for noncriminal disqualifying factors (drug abuse, mental illness, fugitives).{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/10/us/florida-revoked-weapons-permits-background-checks/index.html|title=Florida revoked 291 concealed weapons permits after an employee stopped reviewing background checks|author1=Steve Almasy |author2=Ralph Ellis|work=CNN|access-date=2018-06-14}} Putnam pointed out that concealed carry permits do not allow gun purchases, which require a background check at the time of purchase. Florida Governor Rick Scott said that the incident was "disturbing" and "concerning" adding, "People need to do their jobs. This is public safety." Additional failures in conducting proper reviews of gun permit applications were reported in a 2012 report of the inspector general, including the issuance of gun licenses to felons, which occurred during the first years of Putnam's tenure, although certain instances occurred before Putnam's tenure.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/concealed-weapon-permit-review-finds-mistakes-florida-56345201|title=Concealed weapon permit review finds mistakes in Florida|website=ABC News }}

In response to the 2013 series Worst Charities in America by the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR)—the result of a year-long joint investigation,{{cite news |first1= Kris |last1=Hundley |first2=Kendall |last2=Taggart |series=Times/CIR special report |date=November 14, 2013 |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=December 20, 2017 |title=Lack of regulation and meager penalties allow worst charities to thrive|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/nation/lack-of-regulation-and-meager-penalties-allow-worst-charities-to-thrive/2339545/}} republished and updated on October 2, 2017 in 2014 Putnam crafted CS/SB 638 and CS/HB 629—legislation that was intended to crack down on "fraudulent and deceptive organizations" to prevent them from misusing charitable contributions donated by residents of Florida. The legislation "had passed two of their three referenced committees" by March 2014.{{cite web |url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs127/1112350584315/archive/1116852788317.html |date=March 21, 2014 |work=United Way |title=Legislative Link |access-date=July 9, 2019 |number=3}}{{cite news |title=Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam proposing 'complete rewrite of Florida's charity laws' |first=Tia |last=Mitchell |work=Tampa Bay Times |location=Tallahassee, Florida |date=January 14, 2014 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/agriculture-commissioner-adam-putnam-proposing-complete-rewrite-of/2161057 |access-date=July 9, 2019 }}

2018 Florida gubernatorial campaign

In May 2017, Putnam announced his campaign for the governorship of Florida in the 2018 election to succeed term-limited Republican Rick Scott. He was one of eight candidates running for the Republican nomination.

Putnam placed second in the primary election, which was won by U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis. However, as of April 2018, Putnam's campaign had acquired $19.2 million in campaign contributions, far more than any other candidate.{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/04/11/putnam-campaign-war-chest-larger-than-other-major-gubernatorial-candidates-combined-359603 | title=Putnam campaign war chest larger than other major gubernatorial candidates combined | work=Politico| date=April 11, 2018 | access-date=May 31, 2018 | last=Dixon | first=Matt}} His PAC, Florida Grown, received large contributions from The Walt Disney Company ($824,442), Publix ($736,000), Florida Power and Light ($587,060) and U.S. Sugar ($560,000).{{cite web | url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-disney-putnam-contributions-20180530-story.html | title=From Disney to Big Sugar, Publix isn't the only big-name Florida business backing Adam Putnam | work=Sun Sentinel | date=May 30, 2018 | access-date=May 31, 2018 | last1=Swisher | first1=Skyler | last2=Chokey | first2=Aric}} The donations from Publix to Putnam drew public protest, including a die-in at a Publix supermarket, resulting from Putnam's claim of being a "proud NRA sell-out".{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/05/25/publix-suspends-contributions-to-adam-putnam-amid-david-hoggs-anti-nra-protests/?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 25, 2018|author=Eltagouri, Marwa|title=Publix halts donations to self-described 'NRA sellout' amid boycott, 'die-in' protests by David Hogg}}{{cite news| url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-publix-die-in-20180524-story.html|title=Publix halts campaign donations minutes before students stage 'die-in' protests}}

Ducks Unlimited

File:20200219-OSEC-TEW-03656-toned (49591894068).jpg with Secretary Sonny Perdue, 2020]]

In 2019, Putnam was named as chief executive officer (CEO) of Ducks Unlimited.{{Cite web |title=Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam |url=https://www.ducks.org/about-ducks-unlimited/du-leadership/meet-the-ceo |website=ducks.org |access-date=March 19, 2025 }}{{Cite news |last=Evanoff |first=Ted |date=March 13, 2019 |title=Ducks Unlimited picks high-profile Florida Republican as new CEO |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/2019/03/13/ducks-unlimited-ceo-adam-putnam-florida/3091678002/ |newspaper=The Commercial Appeal |access-date=March 19, 2025 }}

Electoral history

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida House of Representatives 63rd district election, 1996

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam

|23,717

|57.26

Democratic

|Bob Stein

|17,703

|42.74

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida House of Representatives 63rd district election, 1998

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|20,568

|61.76

Democratic

|Kim Grady

|12,736

|38.24

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida's 12th congressional district election, 2000

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam

|125,224

|57.0

Democratic

|Mike Stedem

|94,395

|43.0

Write-in

|Rubye Harrison

|3

|0.0

Write-in

|Don Kennedy

|3

|0.0

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida's 12th congressional district election, 2002

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|n/a

|100.0

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida's 12th congressional district Republican primary election, 2004

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|42,605

|92.3

Republican

|Robert Wirengard

|3,546

|7.7

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida's 12th congressional district election, 2004

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|179,204

|64.9

Democratic

|Bob Hagenmaier

|96,965

|35.1

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida's 12th congressional district election, 2006

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|124,452

|69.1

No Party Affiliation

|Joe Viscusi

|34,976

|19.4

No Party Affiliation

|Ed Bowlin

|20,636

|11.5

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida's 12th congressional district election, 2008

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|185,698

|57.5

Democratic

|Doug Tudor

|137,465

|42.5

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida Agriculture Commissioner election, 2010

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam

|2,908,086

|55.9

Democratic

|Scott Maddox

|1,983,277

|38.1

TEA Party

|Ira Chester

|203,598

|3.9

No Party Affiliation

|Thad Hamilton

|103,717

|2.0

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Florida Agriculture Commissioner election, 2014

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

|%

Republican

|Adam Putnam (inc.)

|3,342,392

|58.7

Democratic

|Thaddeus "Thad" Hamilton

|2,356,178

|41.3

Write-in

|Jeffrey Obos

|213

|0.0

[[File:Florida Governor Republican Primary Election Results by County, 2018.svg|thumb|Results by county:

{{collapsible list

| title = Map legend

|{{legend|#771E12|DeSantis—70–80%}}

|{{legend|#C53926|DeSantis—60–70%}}

|{{legend|#EE5140|DeSantis—50–60%}}

|{{legend|#F18C86|DeSantis—40–50%}}

|{{legend|#FDE387|Putnam—40–50%}}

|{{legend|#FACA33|Putnam—50–60%}}

|{{legend|#D0A828|Putnam—60–70%}}

|{{legend|#7E6514|Putnam—70–80%}}

}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Governor of Florida Republican primary, 2018

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ron DeSantis

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 913,679

| percentage = 56.5%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Adam Putnam

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 591,449

| percentage = 36.6%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bob White

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 32,580

| percentage = 2.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Timothy M. Devine

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 21,320

| percentage = 1.3%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bob Langford

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 19,771

| percentage = 1.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bruce Nathan

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 14,487

| percentage = 0.9%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Don Baldauf

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 13,125

| percentage = 0.8%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = John Joseph Mercadante

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 11,602

| percentage = 0.7%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,618,013

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

References

{{Reflist}}