Palin, Sarah

Sarah Louise Heath Palin is a social conservative, and a Republican politician. In 2006, she became the first female governor of Alaska and the youngest individual (age 42) ever elected to that position. In August 2008, Republican presidential candidate John McCain announced Palin as his running mate. Palin was the first female ever nominated by the Republican Party on a presidential ticket.

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Sarah Palin is the first female ever nominated by the Republican Party on a presidential ticket.

Palin was born February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho, the third of four children in the Heath family. The family moved from Idaho to Alaska when Palin was only a few months old. Her father taught school in a variety of communities in Alaska, finally settling in Skagway, a suburb of Anchorage. Palin studied journalism at the University of Idaho; she graduated with an undergraduate degree in 1987. Shortly after graduation, in 1988, she eloped with her high school sweetheart, Todd Palin. The Palins have five children.

Palin's political career began in 1992 when she was elected to the Wasilla, Alaska City Council. In 1996 she was elected mayor of Wasilla; she served two, three-year terms as mayor (1996–2002). In 2002, Palin entered the Republican primary as a candidate for lieutenant governor, but was defeated. She was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission by the newly-elected governor, Frank Murkowski. After a brief period on the Commission, Palin resigned and raised ethics concerns about another appointee on the Commission. Her concerns prompted a federal investigation.

In November 2009, Palin's book, Going Rogue, was released, and she commenced a national book tour. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs described Palin as “the most formidable force in the Republican Party.” She became a contributor to Fox News, and has become a popular and sought-after speaker and leader at Tea Party rallies, the 2010 Southern Republican Leadership Conference, universities, foundations, and other political and current issues forums.