A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 49, including Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Cwodzinski spent more than 30 years teaching government and history classes at Eden Prairie High School.

[6] Cwodzinski was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016, defeating incumbent David Hann, the Republican minority leader, in an extremely close race.

He is also serving on the following committees during the 2023-24 93rd legislature:[9] Cwodzinski and his wife, Patti, have two children and two grandchildren and live in Eden Prairie.

[10] A self-proclaimed outdoors enthusiast, Cwodzinski has traveled to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness almost every summer since 1979.