A member of the Republican Party, he previously was legal counsel to Governor Charles Thone from 1979 to 1983.

To pay for college, he detasseled corn, hauled bales, mowed lawns, and life guarded at the local swimming pool.

[1] In 1978, Stenberg ran for Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, coming in fourth in the Republican primary with just 13% of the vote.

[3] He first ran for Nebraska Attorney General in 1986, but lost in the Republican primary to incumbent Robert Spire 53%–47%.

[9] In one of the closest elections in Nebraska history, Nelson defeated Stenberg 51%–49%,[10] even as Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush won the state with 62%.

Stenberg left office as attorney general in 2003 and returned to work in the private sector as of counsel at Erickson and Sederstrom, the same firm where his former boss, Charles Thone, is a partner.

After receiving endorsements from Club for Growth and Freedomworks, Stenberg split the Tea Party vote with attorney general Jon Brunning.

Following the withdrawal of the two leading candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor, Stenberg said that he would consider "what is the best way to serve the state of Nebraska".