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    Cwodzinski, Steve A.

    Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2017-2022 (District 48); Senate 2023-Present (District 49)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 9/8/1958
    Birth Place: , California
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Eden Prairie
    Occupation (when first elected): Retired teacher

    EDUCATION

    University of Minnesota; M.A.; Education

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Patti
    Children: Two children: John and Erica
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special legislative concerns: 21st century transportation systems, educational excellence, physical and mental health, environmental protection, and quality veteran services.

    He was Chair of the Civility Caucus.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3001

    SESSIONS SERVED

    94th Legislative Session (2025-2026)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/5/2024
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Retired teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Finance
    • Education Policy (Chair) [He was chair beginning 2/3/2025. He was co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
    • Elections
    • State and Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

    93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/8/2022
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Retired Teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Finance
    • Education Policy (Chair)
    • Elections
    • State and Local Government and Veterans
    term photo
    Click to view

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Retired teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Finance and Policy
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
    • Local Government Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Retired teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
    2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
    2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
    2020 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • E-12 Finance and Policy
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
    • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Eden Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Retired teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • E-12 Policy
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
    • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    News Sources

    The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

    Photographs

    Rich Draheim, Steve Cwodzinski, John Jasinski, and Jeff Howe on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 1/19/2023. Rich Draheim, Steve Cwodzinki, John Jasinski, and Jeff Howe share a moment prior to a floor session. Rich Draheim is Republican from Madison Lake, Steve Cwodzinski is a Democrat from Eden Prairie, John Jasinski is a Republican from Faribault, and Jeff How is a Republican from Rockville. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.
    Steve Cwodzinski and David Senjem on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 4/23/2018. Steve Cwodzinski and David Senjem discuss senate business during a floor session. Steve Cwodzinski is a Democrat from Eden Prairie and David Senjem is a Republican from Rochester. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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