PCYD members Aaron Cofer, Shayne Bilbrey, Morgan Franklin and Brendan Laney with Mike Croley, Democratic candidate for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District

Young Democrats can win in Putnam County. We proved it in 2026.

We recruit, train and elect people under 35 in a county most people write off as red. This year two of our members won seats on the County Commission, and every district in the county moved left. Our monthly meetings are the fourth Thursday of every month at 7:30 PM.

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Putnam County Young Democrats in Cookeville, Tennessee

2 Young Democrats Elected to the Putnam County Commission5 PCYD Candidates on the Ballot22 Races BackedMembership Up 45%2 Voter Registration Drives at Tennessee Tech1M+ Visits to Our Social Media30.5 Points to the Left

Our 2026 Record

Winning as a Democrat in Putnam County takes candidates, volunteers and a plan. Here’s what PCYD members delivered this cycle.

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2Elected to the Putnam County CommissionShayne Bilbrey and Brendan Laney won both District 3 seats.
5PCYD candidates on the ballotMembers ran in local and state races across Putnam County.
22Races we backed19 local races across Putnam County, two Tennessee House races and the 6th Congressional District campaign.
45%Membership growthMore young people joined PCYD this year than ever before.
1M+Visitors to our social mediaOur posts reached well past the county line.
30.5Point swing toward DemocratsPutnam County moved 30.5 points left from 2024 to 2026, and every district shifted, from Monterey to Buffalo Valley.

Two Young Democrats now serve on the Putnam County Commission.

Commissioners Shayne Bilbrey and Brendan Laney represent District 3, the University District around Tennessee Tech, Cookeville Regional Medical Center and parts of downtown Cookeville.

They sit on the committees that handle the county’s planning, its finances and the Rail Trail, and they answer their own phones.

Meet Your Commissioners

Commissioner Shayne Bilbrey — **Shayne Bilbrey**Putnam County Commissioner
District 3

Commissioner Brendan Laney — **Brendan Laney**Putnam County Commissioner
District 3

What We’re Fighting For

Four commitments that come from the people we’ve grown up with in Putnam County.

Affordable Housing

A home you can afford, in the place you grew up.

More housing options, fair treatment for renters, and first homes working families and recent graduates can reach.

Healthcare for All

Care you can count on, wherever you live.

Affordable care across Tennessee, especially in rural communities where the nearest clinic keeps getting farther away.

Upward Mobility

Hard work that pays off right here at home.

Good-paying jobs, fair wages and affordable paths into college and the trades, so young people can build a future here.

By the People

Open government that answers to you.

Open meetings, public records anyone can get to, and elected officials who answer to the whole community.

Read Our Full Mission

Know your districts before you vote.

Enter any Tennessee address and see every district you vote in, plus your polling place on a map. It runs on the State of Tennessee’s own district maps.

Your districtsAny Tennessee address

County Commission
School Board
State House
State Senate
U.S. Congress
Polling place

Your address stays in your browser. PCYD never sees it.

On the Ground in Putnam County

Campus drives, filing day, festivals and front porches. This is what rural organizing looks like.

A crowd of Tennessee Tech students gathered outside a campus building — With students at Tennessee Tech

Trenton Strode, Aaron Cofer and Morgan Franklin holding their candidate petitions outside the Putnam County Election Commission — Filing day at the Election Commission

PCYD members on a lawn holding a sign that reads Run if you're feeling froggy — Supporting our PCYD members

PCYD members and supporters in matching Back the Mack campaign shirts — Helping candidates across Putnam County

A crowd with flags and signs gathered in downtown Cookeville — Downtown Cookeville

PCYD members at an outdoor event booth holding a Jerri Green for Governor sign — Out at community events

Upcoming Events

Where to find PCYD in the weeks ahead, from our own meetings to community events around Cookeville.

Vote. Run. Lead. Build.

That’s the whole mission. If you’re 13 to 35 and live in Putnam County, there’s a place for you in PCYD. Our monthly meetings are the fourth Thursday of every month at 7:30 PM.

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