22-Year Old Republican Defeats Constitution Party Candidate with 83 Percent of Vote
Josh Putnam, a 22-year old recent graduate of North Greenville University will replace veteran Rep. Dan Cooper as representative of House District 10 in Anderson County. Cooper resigned from the office and Putnam will serve the remainder of his term through 2012.
Putnam defeated Dave Ballard with 1,026 votes or 83 percent to 196 votes or 17 percent for Ballard. He had taken 47 percent of the vote in a GOP primary of 6 candidates, but the runoff election was much closer. Putnam won it by only 79 votes.
A smiling Putnam showed up at a Republican Women’s Club Luncheon at the Poinsett Club in Greenville the day after his election victory to hear addresses by Senator Jim DeMint and Congressman Trey Gowdy.
Putnam’s victory is attributed to his extensive personal contact with voters and his promise to continue to listen to constituents and provide “strong, courageous” leadership in Columbia.
