Sarah Palin was impossible to miss in 2008, when John McCain chose the little-known Alaska governor as his running mate.
With her folksy charisma and underdog grit, Palin became a political phenomenon almost overnight. But in the years since, the headlines surrounding her have shifted — from campaign rallies and convention speeches to stories of personal heartbreak and quiet resilience.
Born in Sandpoint, Idaho, and raised in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin’s early life reflected the self-reliance she later championed. A standout athlete at Wasilla High, she met her future husband, Todd Palin, at a basketball game. In 1988, the couple eloped at a local courthouse, enlisting two witnesses from a nearby retirement home because they couldn’t afford a wedding. Together they built a large family — Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig — and a life grounded in Alaska’s rugged rhythm. Palin reported the news, ran the family’s fishing business, and rose to become Alaska’s youngest and first female governor in 2006.
Todd, nicknamed the “First Dude,” balanced oil-field work and competitive snowmobile racing with family life as Palin’s political career took off. When McCain tapped her for the 2008 ticket, he became the anchor at home as the family faced an unrelenting national spotlight, from Bristol’s teenage pregnancy to partisan scrutiny. But after more than 30 years of marriage, cracks began to show. In 2019, Palin said she was “blindsided” to learn via email that Todd had filed for divorce. The split was finalized in March 2020, ending a partnership that had spanned decades of triumph and turmoil.
Today, Palin is navigating a new chapter. Co-parenting their youngest son, Trig, she remains close to her Alaskan roots while rebuilding her life. Her relationship with former New York Rangers player Ron Duguay, whom she calls “safe and comfortable,” marks a quieter, more grounded phase. Still, she hasn’t stepped away from public life — recently returning to politics with a run for Congress. Through faith, family, and trademark toughness, Palin continues to move forward — no longer the meteoric newcomer, but a woman still standing after every storm.