Sen. Aric Putnam to Seek Third Term in 2026

(KNSI) – State Senator Aric Putnam announced he will run for a third term in 2026, citing unfinished work and a commitment to serving his district.

The lawmaker has represented the St. Cloud area in District 14 since 2020 and was sent back to the Legislature in 2022. Putnam told KNSI News he never intended to stay long in St. Paul, but has more work to do before he steps aside to make way for new leadership. “I’m a big fan of term limits, but I got one more term in me.”

The Democratic senator pointed to several major accomplishments during his tenure, including securing funding for a children’s museum in downtown St. Cloud and for the new medical school run by CentraCare and the University of Minnesota. He said there are initiatives he started that need to be completed.

“I’ve gotten things done, and I’ve got more things that need to get done. So for me, it’s about how well you do the job, and I do the job pretty well, and we have things that need to be done, things that I’ve started that I’d like to finish.”

Among his priorities for a third term, Putnam said he wants to expand career and technical education opportunities, particularly in agriculture and medical fields. He cited plans to establish a greenhouse at the new Apollo High School to introduce students to agricultural careers and to expand an ambulance bay program he helped create. Putnam also wants to make permanent a Meals on Wheels program for veterans in greater Minnesota that he established as a pilot project.

The announcement comes after Republican State Representative Bernie Perryman declared her candidacy for the Senate seat. Putnam acknowledged Perryman as a colleague but drew a sharp contrast in what they’ve accomplished in their time in state government. “I am one of the top five most effective legislators in the entire Legislature. If you look at number of bills and bills passed, I get things done. Bernie is in the bottom five in terms of productivity.”

When asked whether recent violence against legislators, including the murder of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, factored into his decision, Putnam said it did not. “For me personally, as tragic and sad as I was when Melissa was murdered, that didn’t change how important public service is to me. It’s a tough job. It’s an important job and the people who can do it need to do it. And that’s why I’m running.”

Putnam chairs the Senate agriculture, veterans, broadband, and rural development committees. He is also the vice chair of the higher education, housing, homelessness prevention, and taxes committees.

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