Anderson was born to Brian and Virginia Anderson on March 2, 1977 and raised in Ely, Minnesota, and graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1995. While still in high school, he worked for WELY radio in Ely which was owned at the time by legendary broadcaster Charles Kuralt. Upon graduating, Anderson enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard and enrolled at Bemidji State University. He would later transfer to the University of Minnesota Duluth where he studied political science and journalism. While still in college, Anderson worked as a production assistant and reporting-intern for KDLH-TV. He also was a morning show host on WWAX from 1997 to 1999. From 1999 to 2011, Anderson worked as an advertising executive and group general sales manager at Red Rock Radio. He left the radio station in 2011 to run for Congress. Anderson, who is openly gay, was the first openly LGBT person ever elected to Duluth's city council.
Political career
Anderson was elected to an At Large seat of the Duluth City Council in 2007. He became Vice-President of the Council in 2009 and President in 2010. He served as a Commissioner of the Duluth Economic Development Authority beginning in 2008 and was President of that body in 2009. Councilman Anderson was recognized by the Duluth News Tribune in 2010 as a recipient of the "20 Under 40" award winner. This award honors the work and contributions of people under the age of 40 that help to make the Duluth community great. He has also assisted on countless campaigns throughout northern Minnesota. People he has worked with include U.S. Senators Paul Wellstone, Amy Klobuchar, and Al Franken, Congressmen Jim Oberstar, State Senators Roger Reinert and Dave Ten Eyck, State Representatives Thomas Huntley, Mary Murphy, and Erik Simonson, St. Louis County Commissioners Frank Jewell, Bill Kron, Tom Rukavina, St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin, Ely Mayor Roger Skraba, Duluth Mayor Don Ness and Duluth City Councilors Dan Hartman, and Greg Gilbert.
Capitol tours
Starting in his own senior year in high school, Anderson has organized and led groups of Ely High School students on tours of the Nation's Capitol. In that time, more than 1,000 students have made the trip to Washington and met their federal elected officials.
2012 Congressional bid
In May 2011, Anderson announced his plans to run for Congress in Minnesota's 8th congressional district. Anderson received significant support in both Duluth and the Iron Range including the endorsements of the Duluth News Tribune and the Mesabi Daily News but lost to Nolan in the August 2012 primary. Anderson has served as Rick Nolan's District Director since January 2013. Anderson and his husband, Jason Vincent, own the Vanilla Bean Restaurant in Two Harbors, Minnesota.
