Bruce Douglas Anderson was a Republican state senator representing Senate District 29 in Minnesota, covering communities in Hennepin, Meeker, Sherburne, and Wright counties. Born on March 12, 1950, he was raised on a dairy farm as the eldest of eight children and resided in Buffalo, Minnesota. A U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War as a Petty Officer 3rd Class until 1973, he later joined the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1986, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2005, and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 2006 until mandatory retirement at age 60 in 2010. Married to Ruth Luffey after the passing of his first wife Dottie to cancer, he had 8 children and 14 grandchildren. Prior to politics, he worked in agricultural and business sales. Anderson was a founding member of the Buffalo Evangelical Free Church and focused on issues like energy, agriculture, health care for special needs individuals, smaller government, economic development, jobs, and small business growth. He died unexpectedly at age 75 on July 21, 2025.

Notable achievements and positions: Longtime legislator with over 30 years of service; Republican lead on the State and Local Government and Veterans Committee; member of Elections, Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development committees, and Claims Subcommittee; also served on Judiciary and Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee. Successfully flipped and held a DFL-leaning district through mentorship and engagement.

Education and Political Experience

Education: Attended North Hennepin State Community College and Willmar Technical College ; B.A. from Northwestern College .

Political Experience:
- Unsuccessful runs: U.S. House ; Minnesota House .
- Minnesota House: 1995-2002 ; 2003-2012 .
- Minnesota Senate: 2013-2022 ; 2023-2025 ; elected 2012, re-elected 2016, 2020, 2022.