Anderson, Bruce Douglas
House 1995-2002 (District 19B); House 2003-2012 (District 19A); Senate 2013-2022 (District 29); Senate 2023-Present (District 29)
Party when first elected: Independent Republican
Counties Served:
Hennepin, Meeker, Sherburne, Wright
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/12/1950
Birth Place:
,
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Evangelical Free Christian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Buffalo
Occupation (when first elected):
Federal Express/Air National Guard
EDUCATION
United States Navy; Postsecondary; Aviation Electronics
Willmar Technical College; A.A.; Agribusiness
Crown College; N.H.J.C.; Liberal Arts
Northwestern College; B.A.; Business Administration
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Navy (Vietnam War);
[Dates Unknown]
Military:
United States Air National Guard/United States Air Force Reserves (Aerial Squadron, Master Sergeant; Transportation Specialist);
19?? to 20??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Governor's Advisory Board for Technology for Persons with Disabilities;
1993 to ?
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Dorothy "Dottie" Adams (when first elected, she died in September 2006); Widower; Ruth Luffey (remarried, while in office in May of 2009)
Children:
Eight children: Leah, Rachel, Janelle, and Emily (two of his daughters are twins); Benjamin (son), Kristina, Elise, Jeremy
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special legislative concerns: energy, agriculture, special needs individuals' health care, smaller government, economic development and jobs, promote small business growth.
He was raised on a dairy farm in Minnesota, the eldest of eight children.
He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican endorsed candidate for the United States House of Representatives in the 1990 election.
He ran unsuccessfully as the Independent Republican party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1992 election.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000. He is a founding member of the Buffalo Evangelical Free Church.
Body: Senate
District: 29
Elected: 11/8/2022
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/11/2027
Counties Represented:
Hennepin, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Retired MN Air National Guard, Retired US Air Force Reserve
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development
-
Elections
-
State and Local Government and Veterans
Body: Senate
District: 29
Elected: 11/3/2020
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023
Counties Represented:
Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Retired US Air Force Reserve, Retired MN Air National Guard
Party:
Republican
Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy
-
Civil Law and Data Practices Policy
-
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
-
Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
Body: Senate
District: 29
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Buffalo Township
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Retired U.S. Air Force Reserve, Retired Minnesota Air National Guard
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
-
Local Government
-
Transportation Finance and Policy
-
Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy (Chair)
Body: Senate
District: 29
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Retired US Air Force Reserve, Retired MN Air National Guard
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
-
Local Government
-
Transportation Finance and Policy
-
Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy (Chair)
Body: Senate
District: 29
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Retired US Air Force Reserve, Retired MN Air National Guard
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Budget Division
-
Finance: Veterans and Military Affairs Subdivision
-
State and Local Government
Body: Senate
District: 29
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Retired U.S. Air Force Reserve, Retired MN Air National Guard
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division
-
State and Local Government
Body: House
District: 19A
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Buffalo Township
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented:
Wright
Occupation: Agribusiness/Military
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
-
State Government Finance: Veterans Services Division (Chair)
Minutes
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Body: House
District: 19A
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Buffalo Township
Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Wright
Occupation: Agribusiness/Military
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division: Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division
Minutes
-
Public Safety Policy and Oversight
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
Body: House
District: 19A
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Buffalo Township
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented:
Wright
Occupation: Agribusiness/Military, United States Air Forces Reserve
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Finance
Minutes
-
Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division: Environmental Justice and Healthy Housing
Minutes
-
Finance: Minnesota Heritage Finance Division
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services: Mental Health Division
Minutes
Body: House
District: 19A
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Buffalo Township
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Wright
Occupation: Agribusiness/Military
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 19A
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented:
Wright
Occupation: Agriculture/Military
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 19B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Agricultural and Industrial Sales and Management/Military
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Education Policy
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Body: House
District: 19B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Agricultural and Industrial Sales and Management
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Crime Prevention
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
Body: House
District: 19B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented:
Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Agricultural and Industrial Sales and Management
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Education
Minutes
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections: Veterans Affairs
-
Governmental Operations
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: Government Structures, Reform and Efficiency
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
Minutes
-
Regulated Industries and Energy
Body: House
District: 19B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Buffalo
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Sherburne, Wright
Occupation: Federal Express/Air National Guard
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Elections: Elections Division
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Administrative Rules
-
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
Session Interviews
Session Interview
(Video) 2006 House Interview
Session Interview
(Video) 2003 House Interview
Articles & Books About
Hegarty, Sue. "One Less Anderson in the House." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 23, 2012, p. 20.
Specktor, Mordecai. "Anderson Wants to Shrink Government, Help Business." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 24, 1995, p. 16.
District Files
District File - 2000 District 19B
District File - 2002 District 19B
District File - 2003 District 19A
District File - 2004 District 19A
District File - 2005 District 19A
District File - 2006 District 19A
District File - 2007 District 19A
District File - 2008 District 19A
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.
Contact this legislator