After attending Lewis Central High School, Hansen graduated from Coe College majoring in both economics and business administration, and has spent his entire career in the private sector. Before becoming a managing partner of the Rodeo Saloon in downtown Council Bluffs, Hansen spent the previous decade working his way up the corporate ladder at TD Ameritrade spending most of that time as a senior broker.

On the political scene, Hansen has long been a volunteer with numerous campaigns ranging from school board candidates to the U.S. Presidency. He is a member of the Pottawattamie County Republicans Central Committee representing the 12th precinct. He has also been elected to serve as a delegate through the convention process and to serve on the rules committees at the district and state levels. In 2012, Hansen served as an Iowa delegate to the Republican National Convention in Tampa.