# Mary Kunesh *American politician and member of the Minnesota State Senate* Mary Kelly Kunesh (formerly Podein; born November 20, 1960) is a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) politician who holds the District 39 seat in the Minnesota State Senate.[^1] The district covers portions of Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, among them the cities of Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, New Brighton, St. Anthony and Spring Lake Park.[^1] Kunesh won a seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] in 2016. She won a seat in the Senate in 2020, and the Senate elected her Assistant Majority Leader in 2023.[^1] In 2026 she was the main author of 2026 Minnesota Amendment 1.[^1] ## Early life, education, and career Kunesh was born in Saint Paul, the ninth of thirteen children, and grew up in Sartell, [[Minnesota]].[^1] Her father held the post of St. Cloud city attorney and later served as an assistant [[county attorney]] for Stearns County.[^1] Her sister, Patrice Kunesh, serves as Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans.[^1] After completing Cathedral High School in [[St. Cloud]], she earned a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from St. Catherine University in 1995.[^1] She received a Master of Arts in information media from [[St. Cloud State University]] in 2010.[^1] ## Career Before entering the [[Minnesota Legislature]], Kunesh was a library media specialist in Robbinsdale Area Schools, including at Robbinsdale Middle School.[^1] In New Brighton she sat on the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Commission and served as its chair, and in 2013 she ran for the city council.[^1] ### Minnesota House of Representatives In the 2016 election Kunesh won her House seat, following Carolyn Laine, the DFL incumbent.[^1] When Laine left the Senate in 2020, Kunesh turned from the House to the Senate race and won that seat.[^1] ### Minnesota State Senate Kunesh defeated Lucia Vogel in the 2020 general election for the Senate, receiving more than 66 percent of the vote.[^1] In 2023 the Senate elected her Assistant Majority Leader.[^1] As of October 2026 her committee assignments were Agriculture, Broadband, & Rural Development; Education Finance, which she chairs; Education Policy; and Environment, Climate, & Legacy.[^1] In 2026 she was the main author of 2026 Minnesota Amendment 1.[^1] ## Personal life Kunesh lives in New Brighton and has three children.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Mary Kelly Kunesh, born November 20, 1960; DFL member of the Minnesota State Senate for District 39.[^1] ### What - Assistant Majority Leader of the Minnesota State Senate from 2023; chair of the Education Finance committee as of October 2026.[^1] - Main author of 2026 Minnesota Amendment 1.[^1] ### When - 2016: won election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, following DFL incumbent Carolyn Laine.[^1] - 2020: won election to the Minnesota State Senate over Lucia Vogel with more than 66 percent of the vote.[^1] - 2023: elected Assistant Majority Leader.[^1] - 2026: main author of 2026 Minnesota Amendment 1.[^1] ### Where - District 39: parts of Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties; resides in New Brighton.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mary Kunesh* (revision 1376403228, retrieved 2026-10-26, CC BY-SA 4.0) — Kunesh's birth, family, education, local and legislative career, election results, leadership post, committee assignments, authorship of 2026 Minnesota Amendment 1, and residence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kunesh