Aric Putnam

{{Infobox officeholder

| name =

| image = Aric Putnam Thank You Nurses (cropped).jpg

| termstart = January 5, 2021

| termend =

| spouse = Laurie Putnam

| children = 2

| district = 14th

| party = Democratic (DFL)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|7}}

| birth_place = Andrews U.S. Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, MD

| occupation = Professor

| residence = St. Cloud, Minnesota

| alma_mater = San Francisco State University
University of Maine
University of Minnesota

| state_senate = Minnesota

| preceded = Jerry Relph

}}

Aric Putnam ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɛər|ɪ|k|_|ˈ|p|ʌ|t|n|əm}} {{respell|AIR|ik|_|PUTT|nəm}};{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_pronounce.html |title=Senate Members' Pronunciation|website=Minnesota Legislature|access-date=August 23, 2024}} 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.{{cite web |title=Senator Aric Putnam |url=https://senatedfl.mn/home/members/senator-aric-putnam/ |website=Minnesota Senate DFL |date=5 January 2021 |access-date=15 January 2021}}

Minnesota State Senate

Putnam was elected in 2020, defeating incumbent Republican Jerry Relph, who 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 serves on the following committees:{{Cite web|title=MN State Senate|url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1249|access-date=2021-01-12|website=www.senate.mn|language=en}}

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

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change | title=Minnesota Senate 14th district election, 2022{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateSenate&DistrictId=502&show=Go | title=Index - Election Results }}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

|candidate = Aric Putnam

|votes = 15,350

|percentage = 52.29

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party of Minnesota

|candidate = Tama Theis

|votes = 13,969

|percentage = 47.58

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate =

|votes = 37

|percentage = 0.13

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 29,356

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Minnesota Senate 14th district election, 2020{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateSenate&DistrictId=502 |title=2020 Minnesota State Senate District 14 Election Results |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |date= |accessdate=January 14, 2021}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

|candidate = Aric Putnam

|votes = 18,318

|percentage = 46.39

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party of Minnesota

|candidate = Jerry Relph (incumbent)

|votes = 18,002

|percentage = 45.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Legal Marijuana Now Party

|candidate = Jaden Partlow

|votes = 3,127

|percentage = 7.92

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate =

|votes = 41

|percentage = 0.10

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 39,488

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no change

| winner = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

| loser = Republican Party of Minnesota

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Minnesota House of Representatives 14A district election, 2018{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=381 |title=2018 Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A Election Results |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |date= |accessdate=January 14, 2021}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party of Minnesota

|candidate = Tama Theis (incumbent)

|votes = 9,079

|percentage = 52.10

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

|candidate = Aric Putnam

|votes = 8,348

|percentage = 47.90

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate =

|votes = 3

|percentage = 0.02

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 17,430

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Minnesota House of Representatives 14A district election, 2016{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=100&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=381|title=2016 Minnesota House of Representatives District 14A Election Results |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |date= |accessdate=January 14, 2021}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party of Minnesota

|candidate = Tama Theis (incumbent)

|votes = 10,961

|percentage = 54.65

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

|candidate = Aric Putnam

|votes = 9,059

|percentage = 45.17

}}