Frequently asked questions

Last updated: October 2026

This year’s election

What area does Senate District 14 cover?

District 14 includes all or parts of St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids, St. Joseph, St. Joseph Township, Haven Township, and Minden Township, in Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties. District map from the Minnesota Secretary of State

Who is running for Senate District 14?

Aric Putnam is running for re-election as the DFL candidate. His opponent is state Representative Bernie Perryman (R–St. Augusta).

When is the election?

The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting, in person or by mail, began September 18. How and where to vote

Who has endorsed Aric Putnam?

More than two dozen organizations have endorsed Aric, including Education Minnesota, the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the Minnesota Farmers Union, the Minnesota Farm Bureau, Conservation Minnesota Voter Center, and Moms Demand Action. See the full list

Where Aric stands

Where does Aric Putnam stand on fraud in state programs?

Public money should be spent honestly, and anyone who steals from state programs should be held accountable. Aric supports stronger penalties for fraud, including making sure anyone convicted of it can never receive state money again.

Aric co-authored the bipartisan law that created Minnesota’s first independent Office of Inspector General, which has subpoena power and can freeze public funds under a court order. Aric now serves on the commission that will recommend the state’s first Inspector General by January 1, 2027. More on his work on fighting fraud

Is Aric Putnam responsible for fraud in state programs?

No. Aric’s work on fraud has been about preventing it and making it easier to catch. Beyond co-authoring the Inspector General law, Aric helped modernize the technology counties use to detect fraud. As chair of the committee that oversees the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, Aric also changed how those departments handle grants.

Where does Aric Putnam stand on the cost of living?

Aric Putnam authored the law that ended state taxes on Social Security benefits for more than 80% of Minnesota recipients, and he helped craft the largest tax cut in state history: $3 billion in savings for middle- and lower-income Minnesota families and seniors in 2023. Aric also passed the Minnesota Child Tax Credit, that saves families up to $1,750 per kid, and he championed universal school meals, which saves the average Minnesota family $2000 per year. Aric also supported bills to stabilize our health care costs, lower prescription drug prices, and expand medical assistance for new moms.

Aric also pressed Governor Walz to ease costs for farmers who have been hit hard by the record-breaking rise in the cost of diesel fuel caused by President Donald Trump’s war in Iran. The war has pushed diesel prices in Minnesota up nearly 80 cents from last month. Aric’s plan to allow farmers to use lower-taxed red dye diesel on public highways would allow farmers to save 32 cents per gallon.

More on his economic record and tax record.

Where does Aric Putnam stand on public schools?

Every child should have access to a quality education, no matter where they live or how much money their family has.

Aric has been a teacher for more than 20 years. In the Senate, he supported more than $2 billion in school funding increases to lower class sizes and add counselors. He passed new incentives to address Minnesota’s teacher shortage and strengthened the READ Act to improve literacy instruction in schools and improve reading scores for our students.

As Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee, he also passed the North Star Promise, which provides in-state college tuition to more than 53,000 Minnesotans. More on his education record

Where does Aric Putnam stand on health care?

No one should have to choose between basic necessities and taking care of their health, and people in greater Minnesota deserve good care close to home.

Aric championed the creation of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s St. Cloud campus, which opened in 2025 to train doctors for greater Minnesota. He also passed laws to lower prescription drug costs and provide more medical assistance for moms, plus $24 million for rural emergency medical services and $300 million in direct aid to nursing homes. More on his health care record

His record

What has Aric Putnam accomplished?

Aric was chief author of Minnesota’s bipartisan 2025 veterans and military affairs budget. It fully funded three new state veterans homes across the state. In 2026, he helped pass the first base pay increase in nearly 30 years for National Guard members on state active duty, and eliminated the annual cap on the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit. Closer to home, he has helped secure state funding for the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, the Great River Children’s Museum, and the St. Cloud Regional Airport. See the full record

Does Aric Putnam work with Republicans?

Yes, regularly. He is one of the most bipartisan Senators in the legislature. The Inspector General law had Republican co-authors and passed the Senate 66–0 on final passage, and his 2025 veterans budget was bipartisan. Aric was the only DFL author of the bill to repay the unemployment insurance trust fund deficit, which kept taxes on small businesses from rising. His endorsements include both the Minnesota Farmers Union and the Minnesota Farm Bureau.

How can I reach Aric Putnam?

Aric holds regular town halls and open office hours, and you can reach him at hello@aricformn.com or 320-266-4032. For help with a state issue, contact his Senate office.