Mary Kunesh-Podein


Mary Kelly Kunesh-Podein is an American politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, she represents District 41B, which includes parts of the counties of Ramsey, Hennepin, and Anoka, and the cities of Columbia Heights, Hilltop, New Brighton, and St. Anthony.

Early life, education, and career

Kunesh-Podein was born in Saint Paul and raised in Sartell, Minnesota. Her mother is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and her father a former St. Cloud City Attorney, and later Assistant Stearns County Attorney. She graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She attended St. Catherine University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education in 1995, and later St. Cloud State University, graduating with a Master of Arts in information media in 2010.
Kunesh-Podein was a member and chair of the New Brighton Parks, Recreation and Environmental Commission and was a candidate for the New Brighton City Council in 2013. She works as a library media specialist for Robbinsdale Area Schools, including Robbinsdale Middle School.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Kunesh-Podein was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016, succeeding DFL incumbent Carolyn Laine. She is one out of four Native American members of the Minnesota Legislature in her first term.

Personal life

Kunesh-Podein and her husband, Tim, reside in New Brighton, Minnesota. They have three children.