Steve and his wife Nicole hail from Aberdeen. He is a graduate of Aberdeen Roncalli High School and the University of South Dakota. Upon completing his degree, he returned to Aberdeen to work for the South Dakota Republican Party in 2002 as Coalitions Director. After working for the State GOP, he moved to Sioux Falls to work for Wells Fargo. He also served as a substitute teacher for the Sioux Falls School District. In April of 2004, Steve relocated back to Aberdeen to work for the South Dakota Republican Party as the Northeast Field Director. After the 2004 election, he was asked to serve as a Constituent Services Representative in Senator Thune’s Aberdeen District office, where he presently works today. Steve has also served as an assistant boys tennis coach for Roncalli for the past four years, and is currently completing his Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Sioux Falls.

Steve is the grandson of the late Joe Barnett, Sr. who served as Speaker of the House and Republican Majority Leader in the South Dakota House of Representatives during his 19 years in public office. 

Steve and his wife Nicole live in Aberdeen, South Dakota and they are expecting their first child in October. In his free time, Steve enjoys spending time with his family, pheasant and waterfowl hunting, playing tennis and basketball, waterskiing, cycling, swimming, lifting weights, and participating in triathlons.