He was an unsuccessful candidate for California's 1st Congressional District, which was being vacated by retiring Congressman Wally Herger.

He received both his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles.

[2] Aanestad was a practicing dentist in Grass Valley, and served as the Vice-Chief of Surgery at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.

[citation needed] On February 9, 2012, Aanestad announced that he is officially running for the open 1st Congressional District in California being vacated by retiring Congressman Wally Herger.

[5] Aanestad came third in the open primary losing to fellow Republican State Sen. Doug LaMalfa and Democrat Jim Reed.