# Steve Cwodzinski *American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate (DFL)* Steve A. Cwodzinski (born September 8, 1958) is a member of the [[Minnesota Senate]] from the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL).[^1] Since the 2022 redistricting he has represented District 49, which takes in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area.[^1] Before entering the Senate, Cwodzinski taught at [[Eden Prairie High School]] for more than three decades.[^1] He won his seat in 2016 by unseating the incumbent Republican minority leader, [[David Hann]]. He chairs the Senate Education Policy Committee.[^1] ## Early life, education, and career Cwodzinski is a native of [[Superior, Wisconsin]], where he also grew up.[^1] He earned a bachelor's degree in education from the [[University of Minnesota]] and later a master's degree in the same field there.[^1] For more than 30 years he taught government and history at Eden Prairie High School. That classroom work earned him the Presidential Scholar's Influential Teacher Award.[^1] His book, *Beyond the Lesson Plan*, recounts lessons from his years of teaching.[^1] ## Minnesota Senate In the 2016 election Cwodzinski narrowly defeated Hann, the sitting Republican minority leader, to win a seat in the Senate.[^1] He represented District 48 until the 2022 redistricting.[^1] He then ran in District 49 in 2022 and won reelection over Marla Helseth with 62.3% of the vote.[^1] He chairs the Senate Education Policy Committee. In the 93rd Legislature (2023–24) he also sat on the Education Finance, Elections, State and Local Government, and Veterans committees.[^1] ## Personal life Cwodzinski lives in Eden Prairie with his wife, Patti; they have two children and two grandchildren.[^1] He calls himself an outdoors enthusiast. He has visited the [[Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness]] in nearly every summer since 1979.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Steve A. Cwodzinski, DFL member of the Minnesota Senate, District 49.[^1] ### What - Chair, Minnesota Senate Education Policy Committee.[^1] ### When - Born September 8, 1958.[^1] - Elected to the Senate in 2016 (District 48); reelected in 2022 (District 49).[^1] ### Where - Born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin; represents Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, Minnesota.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Steve Cwodzinski* (revision 1373191601, retrieved 26 October 2026) — biographical, electoral and committee facts cited throughout. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Cwodzinski