Adam Putnam gives stump speech during stop in Jacksonville

Event at Grape and Grain Exchange in San Marco on Monday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the Florida primary elections draw near, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam was in San Marco on Monday night campaigning for the governor's seat.

Putnam made time to shake hands and offer a stump speech during an event hosted by a Young Republicans club at Grape and Grain Exchange.

The packed room included candidates for other offices, like Baxter Troutman, a Republican candidate with eyes on Putnam's open seat for agricultural commissioner.

"The First Coast is very important in any statewide campaign, so I need the support of this community," Troutman said. "We're going to win this race."

With only three weeks left before polls open, both Putnam and his top Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, are raking in the donations. Putnam said he feels he has an edge over his opponents.

"I don't think there's any doubt. I've been to every corner of our state," Putnam said. "I know the challenges and the issues we face, and I know how to solve those problems."

Putnam has been in the race since May 2017 and has raised twice as much money as DeSantis.
DeSantis just entered the campaign in January but scored a Presidential endorsement last week in Tampa.

Putnam says local and state support should matter more.

"The presidential thumb on the scale is a pretty big thumb," Putnam said. "But I believe that 49 Florida sheriffs, all the first responder groups including our firefighters, our law enforcement, realtors, home builders, ABC contractors -- those are real Florida voters." 

 


About the Author:

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax's 5 p.m., 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts "This Week in Jacksonville," Channel 4's hot topics and politics public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.