Senator Steve Cwodzinski to Retire After Nearly a Decade in Office

ST. PAUL, Minn. — State Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL–Eden Prairie) announced that he will not seek reelection in 2026 and will retire at the end of his current term in January 2027, concluding nearly a decade in the Minnesota Senate.

Cwodzinski was first elected in 2016 and took office in January 2017. He initially represented Senate District 48 and, following redistricting, won reelection in 2022 to represent Senate District 49, which includes Eden Prairie and portions of Minnetonka. He has represented the area continuously since entering the Legislature.

As Chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee since 2022, Cwodzinski has centered his legislative work on strengthening Minnesota’s education system. A former civics and history teacher at Eden Prairie High School for more than 30 years, he brought firsthand classroom experience to his policy work and quickly became one of the Legislature’s most recognizable advocates for students, teachers, and public schools.

One highlight of his tenure was the 2023 Education Omnibus Bill, which included the largest investment in K–12 education in Minnesota’s history. The bill added civics and personal finance as high school graduation requirements and implemented menstrual equity measures requiring schools to make menstrual products freely available in restrooms. Cwodzinski also advanced reforms around absenteeism definitions, cell phone use in schools, and student health and safety.

Beyond education, Cwodzinski has been an active voice on issues of democracy and elections, serving on the Senate Elections Committee and advocating for improved voter access and election security. His long career as a civics teacher shaped his belief that government should encourage civic participation and strengthen democratic institutions.

He has also been a strong advocate for environmental protection. An avid outdoorsman who has visited the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness nearly every year for almost five decades, Cwodzinski authored and supported legislation aimed at safeguarding Minnesota’s natural landscapes.

Personal Background and Farewell

Born in Superior, Wisconsin, Cwodzinski earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota. Over the course of his teaching career, he taught more than 12,000 students, encouraging them to become active, informed participants in civic life. He is also the author of Beyond the Lesson Plan, a book reflecting on lessons learned in the classroom.

Cwodzinski and his wife, Patti, have been married for nearly 40 years and live in Eden Prairie, where they raised their two children.

In announcing his retirement, Cwodzinski framed the decision through the lens of civic duty, referencing the Constitution’s call to form “a more perfect union” and emphasizing his belief that public service is a continuous process of striving, learning, and improving.

“Thank you, Minnesota, with a special shoutout to Eden Prairie and Minnetonka,” he said. “I still have 12 months to listen and learn from you all. The framers knew we would never be perfect, but we should never stop striving to be perfect. Together we can solve a few pieces of the puzzle and leave Minnesota a more perfect union.”

He added, “My enthusiasm and passion for our democracy will never waver. It may seem old-fashioned and sentimental, but I love my country and the state of Minnesota. I always will.”

Looking Ahead

Cwodzinski’s departure will open a DFL-held seat in a district that has consistently leaned Democratic, but his retirement still marks a significant transition for the region he has represented for nearly a decade.

Known for his enthusiasm, bipartisanship, and unwavering commitment to civic education, Senator Steve Cwodzinski leaves behind a legislative legacy shaped by a lifelong devotion to public service — both inside and outside the classroom.

MinneapoliMedia