His father, Aleksandr Nikolayevich, worked as the chief engineer of the railway transport department of the Severstal company, while his mother, Yelena Ivanovna, is a primary school teacher.

From 2002 to 2006, Kuvshinnikov was a member of parliament, a deputy of the Cherepovets City Duma, and was the chairman of the commission on municipal services.

In 2005, he graduated from the MBA program (Master of Business Administration) at the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation.

On 21 October 2010, he was elected Chairman of the Healthy Cities, Districts and Towns Association during the founding meeting.

[3] On 17 September 2011, Kuvshinnikov was included in the Council for the Development of Local Self-Government in accordance with the Decree of the President.

[5] In December 2011, Kuvshinnikov announced his possible resignation as the mayor if United Russia won less than 50% of the vote in Cherepovets.

[7] On 28 December 2011, on the proposal of President Dmitry Medvedev, Kuvshinnikov was approved as governor by the Legislative Assembly of the Vologda Oblast.

At the same time, the leadership of the Vologda Oblast was included in the anti-rating of the All-Russian People's Front "Index of extravagance".

In March 2014, Kuvshinnikov initiated a prosecutorial check against journalist Roman Romanenko for his joking post on social networks calling for saving Russians not only in Crimea, but also in the Vologda Oblast.

[18] On 4 April 2014, operational-search actions were launched against the Good People charity fund, which is led by Romanenko.

[19][20] On 5 May 2014, during a working meeting with the President of Russia, he asked for permission to hold early elections for the Vologda Governor.

3121-03 “On the headmen of the settlements of the Vologda Oblast”, was adopted, which promotes the participation of residents in local self-government.

On the Single Voting Day, 8 September 2019, with a score of 60.79% in the first round of elections for the Governor of the Vologda Oblast, he won the reelection, and extended his term of office until 2024.

[30] On 31 October 2023 Kuvshinnikov was dismissed from his position of governor by Vladimir Putin and replaced by Geogry Filimonov.