Republican Minnesota State Senator Bruce Anderson died unexpectedly on Monday, July 21, at age 75, according to Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson. Anderson had served in the Minnesota Legislature for over 30 years, beginning his career in the state House in 1995 before moving to the Senate in 2012.
Johnson announced Anderson’s death in a statement Monday, describing him as “a dedicated public servant, loving family man, and dear friend to many at the Capitol and in Buffalo.” The Anderson family has requested privacy and will release a statement at a later time.
Anderson represented Minnesota Senate District 29, which included parts of Wright, Hennepin, Meeker and Sherburne counties. He was a resident of Buffalo, Minnesota, where he lived with his wife Ruth. The couple had eight children and 14 grandchildren together.
Born and raised on a dairy farm in rural Minnesota, Anderson was the eldest of eight children. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1973, and later served in the Minnesota Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Master Sergeant. His military background shaped much of his legislative focus throughout his career.
During his time in the Legislature, Anderson concentrated on issues affecting agriculture, energy policy, rural economic development, broadband access, and public safety. He chaired various veterans’ committees in both the House and Senate, advocating consistently for military service members and veterans. His agricultural background from growing up on a dairy farm informed his work on farming and rural development issues.
Anderson’s legislative career began when he was first elected to the Minnesota House in 1994, representing District 19B until redistricting in 2002, after which he represented District 19A from 2003 to 2012. He served on multiple committees, including the House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee and the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. He also participated in several finance subcommittees covering bioscience, workforce development, capital investment, and energy policy.
In 2012, Anderson successfully ran for the Minnesota Senate, where he continued his service until his death. He easily won reelection in 2022, defeating his Democratic challenger by approximately 36 percentage points, demonstrating the strongly Republican nature of his district.
Colleagues from both political parties praised Anderson following news of his death. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, a Democrat from St. Paul, served with Anderson in both chambers of the Legislature. Murphy indicated she would fondly remember Anderson for his approach to legislative work and treatment of colleagues, describing him as a decent and kind colleague and a dedicated family man.
Democratic Senator Aric Putnam noted that Anderson’s military service expertise and agricultural background made him an effective champion for farmers, veterans, and service members at the State Capitol. Governor Tim Walz, also a Democrat, acknowledged Anderson’s contributions on social media, stating that he and his wife were sending love to Anderson’s family and friends.
Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, whom Anderson succeeded in the Senate, posted on social media that Anderson had been both her mentor during her first election and later her successor. Koch described Anderson as someone who changed hearts and minds through hard work and extensive conversation in what was once a Democratic-leaning district.
Anderson was preceded in death by his first wife, Dottie, who died in 2006. He later remarried Ruth, and together they built a large family in Buffalo.
Anderson’s funeral was held at 3 p.m. on July 28 and was livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. The service reflected his deep connections to both his local Buffalo community and the broader network of colleagues he had built during his three decades in state government.
Governor Walz must now call a special election to fill the vacancy left by Anderson’s death. This adds to recent upheaval in the Minnesota Senate, which has experienced multiple vacancies over the past year due to deaths, resignations, and other departures of sitting senators.
On Tuesday, Walz issued writs for special elections to fill Anderson’s seat, along with another vacant Senate position. The special elections for both districts will be held on November 4, with special primary elections scheduled for August 26 if necessary for candidate nominations. The candidate filing window for Anderson’s District 29 seat officially opened on July 31.