Know your vote. Take a look at your sample ballot now!

Paul Anderson (Minnesota)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Paul Anderson
Republican Party
Candidate, Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A
Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A
Tenure
2023 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
3
Predecessor: Jeff Backer (R)
Prior offices:
Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B
Years in office: 2009 - 2023
Successor: Mary Franson (R)
Compensation
Base salary
$51,750/year
Per diem
$86/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Next election
August 11, 2026
Education
Bachelor's
University of Minnesota, Morris, 1974
Personal
Profession
Farmer
Contact
Official website
Official Facebook
Personal Facebook
Personal LinkedIn

Paul Anderson (Republican Party) is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 12A. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.

Anderson (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 12A. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on August 11, 2026.[source]

Biography

Paul Anderson earned a B.A. from the University of Minnesota at Morris in 1974. Anderson's career experience includes owning Anderson Farms and working as a farmer.[1][2]

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Anderson was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Anderson was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Anderson was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Anderson was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• Agriculture Finance
• Agriculture Policy, Chair
• Job Growth and Energy Affordability

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Anderson served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Anderson served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Agriculture Policy
• Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance
• Housing Finance and Policy

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Anderson served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Anderson served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on August 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A

Incumbent Paul Anderson (R) is running in the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A on August 11, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A

Incumbent Paul Anderson defeated Becky Parker in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson (R)
 
73.8
 
17,110
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Becky Parker (D)
 
26.1
 
6,058
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
15

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 23,183
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Becky Parker advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Anderson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Anderson in this election.

2022

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A

Incumbent Paul Anderson defeated Edie Barrett in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson (R)
 
71.1
 
13,281
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Edie Barrett (D)
 
28.8
 
5,388
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
18

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 18,687
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Edie Barrett advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Anderson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A.

2020

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B

Incumbent Paul Anderson defeated Ben Schirmers in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson (R)
 
75.0
 
17,151
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Ben Schirmers (D)
 
24.9
 
5,697
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
17

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 22,865
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Ben Schirmers advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Anderson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B

Incumbent Paul Anderson defeated Ben Schirmers in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson (R)
 
71.3
 
12,219
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Ben Schirmers (D)
 
28.6
 
4,894
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
17

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 17,130
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B

Ben Schirmers advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Ben Schirmers

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B

Incumbent Paul Anderson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Paul Anderson ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B general election.[3][4]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 12B General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Anderson Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State



Incumbent Paul Anderson ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B Republican primary.[5][6]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 12B Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Anderson Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Gordy Wagner was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Paul Anderson was unopposed in the Republican primary. Anderson defeated Wagner in the general election.[7][8][9]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 12B General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Anderson Incumbent 67.8% 9,920
     Democratic Gordy Wagner 32.1% 4,694
     Write-in Write-in 0.1% 8
Total Votes 14,622

2012

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2012

Anderson ran in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Rick Rosenfield (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[10]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 12B, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Anderson Incumbent 66.4% 13,043
     Democratic Rick Rosenfield 33.6% 6,611
Total Votes 19,654

2010

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2010

Anderson won re-election to the District 13A Seat in 2010. He was unopposed in the August 10 primary. He also faced no opposition in the general election on November 2, 2010.[11]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 13A (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Paul Anderson (R) 12,759 98.44%
Write-In 202 1.56%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Paul Anderson won election to the District 13A Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating Bruce Shuck. [12]

Paul Anderson raised $28,709 for his campaign.[13]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 13A (2008)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Paul Anderson (R) 11,422 58.35%
Bruce Shuck (DFL) 8,128 41.52%
Write-In 24 0.12%

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Paul Anderson has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Paul Anderson, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 26,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.


2024

Paul Anderson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Paul Anderson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Paul Anderson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Paul Anderson campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024Minnesota House of Representatives District 12AWon general$40,818 $37,278
2022Minnesota House of Representatives District 12AWon general$42,221 $41,970
2020Minnesota House of Representatives District 12BWon general$28,835 N/A**
2018Minnesota House of Representatives District 12BWon general$37,331 N/A**
2016Minnesota House of Representatives, District 12bWon $25,281 N/A**
2014Minnesota House of Representatives, District 12bWon $41,489 N/A**
2012Minnesota State House, District 12BWon $24,018 N/A**
2010Minnesota State House, District 13AWon $15,336 N/A**
2008Minnesota State House, District 13AWon $28,709 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2025.

  • Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
  • Minnesota AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
  • Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2013.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2012.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2011.

See also

2026 Elections

Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
What's on the ballot?
U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress special elections
State executives
State legislatures
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards
Election analysis hub

Government

Seal of Minnesota.png
Who represents me?
U.S. Congress
State executives
State legislators
State courts
Ballot measures
Municipal government
School boards

Newsletters

Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
The Daily Brew
The Weekly Brew
The Ballot Bulletin
Checks and Balances
Economy and Society
Hall Pass
Number of the Day
Robe & Gavel
Union Station


External links

Officeholder

Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A
  • Website
  • Facebook
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ LinkedIn, "State Rep. Paul Anderson," accessed April 22, 2023
    2. ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Rep. Paul Anderson," accessed April 22, 2023
    3. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    4. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    5. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    6. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    7. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 general election results," accessed November 5, 2014
    8. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State Canvassing Board Report," August 19, 2014
    9. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed July 25, 2014
    10. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 18, 2012
    11. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2010 Election Results," accessed March 9, 2014
    12. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "All Races by Legislative District," accessed April 23, 2014
    13. ↑ Follow the Money's report on Anderson's 2008 campaign contributions

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Jeff Backer (R)     		Minnesota House of Representatives District 12A
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota House of Representatives District 12B
    2009-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Mary Franson (R)


    Current members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
    Leadership
    Speaker of the House:Lisa Demuth
    Majority Leader:Harry Niska
    Minority Leader:Jamie Long
    Representatives
    District 1A
    District 1B
    District 2A
    District 2B
    District 3A
    District 3B
    District 4A
    District 4B
    Jim Joy (R)
    District 5A
    District 5B
    District 6A
    Ben Davis (R)
    District 6B
    District 7A
    District 7B
    District 8A
    District 8B
    District 9A
    District 9B
    District 10A
    District 10B
    District 11A
    District 11B
    District 12A
    District 12B
    District 13A
    District 13B
    District 14A
    District 14B
    District 15A
    District 15B
    District 16A
    District 16B
    District 17A
    District 17B
    District 18A
    District 18B
    District 19A
    District 19B
    District 20A
    District 20B
    District 21A
    District 21B
    District 22A
    District 22B
    District 23A
    District 23B
    District 24A
    District 24B
    District 25A
    Kim Hicks (D)
    District 25B
    District 26A
    District 26B
    District 27A
    District 27B
    District 28A
    District 28B
    Max Rymer (R)
    District 29A
    District 29B
    District 30A
    District 30B
    District 31A
    District 31B
    District 32A
    District 32B
    District 33A
    District 33B
    District 34A
    District 34B
    Xp Lee (D)
    District 35A
    District 35B
    District 36A
    District 36B
    District 37A
    District 37B
    District 38A
    District 38B
    District 39A
    District 39B
    District 40A
    District 40B
    District 41A
    District 41B
    District 42A
    District 42B
    District 43A
    District 43B
    District 44A
    District 44B
    District 45A
    District 45B
    District 46A
    District 46B
    District 47A
    District 47B
    Ethan Cha (D)
    District 48A
    Jim Nash (R)
    District 48B
    District 49A
    District 49B
    District 50A
    District 50B
    District 51A
    District 51B
    District 52A
    Liz Reyer (D)
    District 52B
    District 53A
    District 53B
    District 54A
    District 54B
    District 55A
    District 55B
    District 56A
    District 56B
    John Huot (D)
    District 57A
    District 57B
    District 58A
    District 58B
    District 59A
    Fue Lee (D)
    District 59B
    District 60A
    District 60B
    District 61A
    District 61B
    District 62A
    District 62B
    District 63A
    District 63B
    District 64A
    District 64B
    District 65A
    District 65B
    District 66A
    District 66B
    District 67A
    Liz Lee (D)
    District 67B
    Jay Xiong (D)
    Republican Party (67)
    Democratic Party (67)


    Flag of Minnesota
    v • e
    State of Minnesota
    St. Paul (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy










    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paul_Anderson_(Minnesota)&oldid=11076680"