Office: Preyer 10
joputnam@davidson.edu
Phone: (704) 894-2034
Fax: (704) 894-2071

Political Science Department
Davidson College
P.O. Box 7134
Davidson, NC 28035-7134

Josh Putnam joined the Davidson Political Science faculty in January 2011 as a visiting assistant professor after a similar stint at Wake Forest in 2009-10. An avid elections watcher, his focus both in research and in the classroom is on American politics and specifically on campaigns and elections. His research deals with the reasoning behind states' efforts to position their presidential delegate selection contests on the presidential primary calendar from one presidential election year to the next. Over the last four decades, earlier has been better (a more influential position), and states have moved accordingly, culminating with the massive movement ahead of the 2008 cycle. The issue that Dr. Putnam explored in his dissertation while at the University of Georgia is why some states are able to move their nominating contests and others are not. Josh also has an interest in the study of both the electoral college and redistricting. He also runs the elections blog, Frontloading HQ, which has garnered national media attention in the lead up to the 2012 presidential election.

Education:
BA (political science), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MA, PhD, University of Georgia