Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links > >

Cwodzinski, Steve A.

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.

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

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

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

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
Committees:
  • E-12 Finance and Policy
  • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
  • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy

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
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.

Contact this legislator