He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Bergen in 1958, but was not re-elected. He had previously served as a deputy representative during the term 1954–1957, and later served in the same position from 1961–1965. Andersen spent his entire career as a ship mechanic, and was active in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions.
On the local level Andersen was a member of Bergen city council from 1954 to 1959.