Sarah Palin#SarahPAC

Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho, the third of four children (three daughters and one son) of Sarah "Sally" Heath (née Sheeran; 1940–2021),{{cite web|title=Sarah Palin's Mom Sally Heath — 'the Rock of the Family' — Dies at 80|url=https://people.com/politics/sarah-palin-mom-sally-sheeran-heath-family-dies-at-80/|access-date=January 15, 2021|website=People|language=EN}} a school secretary, and Charles R. "Chuck" Heath (born 1938), a science teacher and track-and-field coach. Palin's siblings are Chuck Jr., Heather, and Molly.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_iIMb-jOGkC&pg=PT12|title=Trailblazer: An Intimate Biography of Sarah Palin|last=Benet|first=Lorenzo|publisher=Books.simonandschuster.com|date= February 17, 2009|access-date=August 7, 2012|isbn=978-1-4391-5555-4}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20120527145902/http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/how-i-got-to-know-sarah-palin/nFBqD/ "How I Got to Know Sarah Palin"] WSB TV 2. September 3, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2012.[http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2008/10/i-never-thought-id-say-my-sister-the-vice-president "'I Never Thought I'd Say, 'My Sister, the Vice President'"], glamour.com, October 1, 2008; retrieved October 9, 2010.[https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6062829&page=1 "Palin's Big Brother 'Excited for Her'"]. ABC News. October 18, 2010; retrieved October 9, 2010. Palin is of English, Irish, and German ancestry.{{cite news|access-date=April 25, 2009|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/republicans/2646949/Sarah-Palin-profile-Former-beauty-queen-was-an-unlikely-choice.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830013545/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/republicans/2646949/Sarah-Palin-profile-Former-beauty-queen-was-an-unlikely-choice.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2008|title=Sarah Palin profile: Former beauty queen was an unlikely choice|date=August 29, 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London, UK|first=Toby|last=Harnden}}

When Palin was a few months old, the family moved to Skagway, Alaska,Palin, Sarah. (2009) Going Rogue. HarperCollins Publishers, New York. Ch. 2, pp. 7, 10. where her father had been hired to teach.{{cite book|last=Hilley|first=Joe|url=https://www.amazon.com/Trailblazer-Intimate-Biography-Sarah-Palin/dp/B002PJ4GZ4/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t|title=Trailblazer: An Intimate Biography of Sarah Palin|date=February 17, 2009|publisher=Threshold Editions|access-date=October 5, 2011}} They relocated to Eagle River, Anchorage in 1969, and settled in Wasilla, Alaska, in 1972.Palin, Sarah. (2009) Going Rogue. pp. 14, 17.[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/03/palins_alaskan_town_proud_wary/?page=2 "Palin's Alaskan town proud, wary"]. Boston Globe. September 3, 2008; retrieved October 8, 2010. "Palin, whose family moved to Wasilla from nearby Eagle River when she was 8, stood out from an early age." (requires subscription or fee)

Palin played flute in the junior high band. She attended Wasilla High School, where she was head of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-08-30-1495391136_x.htm|title=Evangelicals energized by McCain-Palin ticket|last=Gorski|first=Eric|date=August 30, 2008|work=USA Today|access-date=February 7, 2010}} and a member of the girls' basketball and cross-country running teams.Palin, Sarah. (2009) Going Rogue. pp. 30, 33. During her senior year, she was co-captain and point guard of the basketball team that won the 1982 Alaska state championship, earning the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" for her competitive streak.{{cite news|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27091580/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009204624/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27091580/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2008|title=Palin was no pushover on basketball court|agency=Associated Press|date=October 8, 2008|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=November 5, 2008}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1837523_1837531_1837532,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831223146/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1837523_1837531_1837532,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2008|title=A Jock and a Beauty Queen|last=Suddath|first=Claire|date=August 29, 2008|magazine=Time}}

In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant;{{cite news |author=Peterson, Deb |title=Palin was a high school star, says schoolmate |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=August 30, 2008 |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/debpeterson/story/23D7A0CF8A2E3A61862574B50011DB30?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902033141/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/debpeterson/story/23D7A0CF8A2E3A61862574B50011DB30?OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2008}} she finished third (as second runner-up) in the Miss Alaska pageant, where she won the title of "Miss Congeniality".[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/7661230/Beauty-queen-who-beat-Sarah-Palin-in-Miss-Alaska-aims-for-political-career.html Nick Allen (May 1, 2010). "Beauty queen who beat Sarah Palin in Miss Alaska aims for political career". The Telegraph. Retrieved December 26, 2017.]{{cite news|last1=Argetsinger|first1=Amy|author-link=Amy Argetsinger|last2=Roberts|first2=Roxanne M.|author-link2=Roxanne Roberts|title=Miss Alaska '84 Recalls Rival's Winning Ways|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=C1|date=September 8, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800094.html|access-date =April 4, 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/us/politics/24palin.html|title=Little-Noticed College Student to Star Politician|last=Davey|first=Monica|date=October 24, 2008|work=The New York Times}} She played the flute in the talent portion of the contest.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/sarah-palins-beauty-pagea_n_130901.html|title= Sarah Palin On Flute: Watch Her Beauty Pageant Talent|type= VIDEO|date=October 1, 2008|work=Huffington Post|access-date=February 9, 2010|first=Katherine|last=Thomson}} One author reports that she received the Miss Congeniality award in the Miss Wasilla contest (but this is disputed by another contestant and classmate of Palin's), and a college scholarship.

After graduating from high school in 1982, Palin enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.[https://web.archive.org/web/20101127225652/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aYY9hiQdr5E4&pid=newsarchive "Palin, 'Average' Student at 5 Schools, Prayed, Planned for TV"] Bloomberg L.P., September 7, 2008; retrieved November 30, 2010. Shortly after arriving in Hawaii, Palin transferred to Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu for a semester in the fall of 1982. She returned to the mainland, enrolling at North Idaho College, a community college in Coeur d'Alene, for the spring and fall semesters of 1983. She transferred and enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, for an academic year starting in August 1984. Beginning in the fall of 1985, she attended Matanuska-Susitna College in Alaska. Palin returned to the University of Idaho in January 1986 and received her bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism in May 1987.{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2008/09/05/sarah-palins-extensive-college-career.html |title=Sarah Palin's Extensive College Career |publisher=USNews.com |date=September 5, 2008 |access-date=October 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005021420/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2008/09/05/sarah-palins-extensive-college-career.html |archive-date=October 5, 2009}}{{cite news | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008159836_palinskul05.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080919151906/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008159836_palinskul05.html | url-status=dead | archive-date = September 19, 2008 | title = Palin switched colleges as many as 6 times | agency = Associated Press | work = The Seattle Times | date = September 5, 2008 | access-date = June 11, 2011 | first = Nicholas K. | last = Geranios}}{{cite web|last=Noah |first=Timothy |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2201332/ |title=Sarah Palin's college daze |work=Slate |date=October 1, 2008 |access-date=October 24, 2009}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYY9hiQdr5E4&refer=home |title=Palin, 'Average' Student at 5 Schools, Prayed, Planned for TV |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=September 7, 2008 |access-date=October 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100321154128/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087 |archive-date=March 21, 2010}}

After graduation, Palin worked as a sportscaster for KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV in Anchorage{{cite web| access-date=July 19, 2009| url=http://www.biography.com/articles/Sarah-Palin-360398?print| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817012715/http://www.biography.com/articles/Sarah-Palin-360398?print| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 17, 2010| title=Sarah Palin Biography| work=The Biography Channel}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-from-tv-sport_n_122676.html|title=Sarah Palin: From TV Sports Anchor To Vice Presidential Candidate|type=VIDEO|date=August 30, 2008|work=Huffington Post|access-date=February 9, 2010|first=Danny|last=Shea}} and as a sports reporter for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman,{{cite news|url=http://www.itemonline.com/opinion/local_story_196113857.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103103438/http://www.itemonline.com/opinion/local_story_196113857.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013| title = Palin: Point guard for the GOP|first=Naomi|last=Lede|newspaper=The Huntsville Item|date=July 15, 2009| access-date =July 19, 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/06/opinion/editorials/doc48ba20a98c56e204165664.txt| title = We know Sarah Palin|work=Opinion|publisher=Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman|date=August 30, 2008|access-date=November 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711044408/http://frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/06/opinion/editorials/doc48ba20a98c56e204165664.txt|archive-date=July 11, 2011}} fulfilling an early ambition.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/sarah-palin-interview-0309|title=Sarah Palin: What I've Learned|magazine=Esquire|first=Ryan|last=D'Agostino|date=November 16, 2009|access-date=February 12, 2010}}

{{Main|Early political career of Sarah Palin|Electoral history of Sarah Palin}}

Palin has been a Republican since 1982.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/members-of-frin.html|title=Members of 'Fringe' Alaskan Independence Party Incorrectly Say Palin Was a Member in 90s; McCain Camp and Alaska Division of Elections Deny Charge|first=Jake|last=Tapper|date=September 1, 2008|work=Political Punch|publisher=ABC News}}

Palin was elected to the Wasilla City Council in 1992, winning by a margin of 530 votes to 310.

Concerned that revenue from a new Wasilla sales tax would not be spent wisely,{{cite news|last=Yardley| first=William|title=Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms|work=The New York Times|date=August 29, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?pagewanted=3|access-date=August 30, 2008}} Palin ran for mayor of Wasilla in 1996, defeating incumbent mayor John Stein by a 651–440 margin.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1817|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731055424/http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1817|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2013|title=1996 Regular election|publisher=City of Wasilla|access-date=February 8, 2010}} Her biographer described her campaign as targeting wasteful spending and high taxes; her opponent, Stein, said that Palin introduced abortion, gun rights, and term limits as campaign issues.{{cite news|first=William|last=Yardley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html?pagewanted=all|title=Palin's Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual|work=The New York Times|date=September 2, 2008|access-date=September 2, 2008}} The election was nonpartisan, though the state Republican Party ran advertisements for Palin. She ran for reelection against Stein in 1999 and won, 909 votes to 292.{{cite web|url=http://cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=41|title=October 5, 1999 Regular Election; Official Results|access-date=September 1, 2008|publisher=City of Wasilla|date=October 11, 2005|format=PDF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731060503/http://cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=41|archive-date=July 31, 2013}} In 2002, she completed the second of the two consecutive three-year terms allowed by the city charter.{{cite web|title=Wasilla Municipal Code|url=http://www.codepublishing.com/AK/Wasilla/Wasilla02/Wasilla0216.html|publisher=City of Wasilla|access-date=December 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901235453/http://www.codepublishing.com/AK/Wasilla/Wasilla02/Wasilla0216.html|archive-date=September 1, 2008}} She was elected president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors in 1999.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/politics/v-printer/story/510153.html|title=From Wasilla's basketball court to the national stage: Sarah Palin timeline|access-date=February 14, 2010|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=August 29, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902071541/http://www.adn.com/politics/v-printer/story/510153.html|archive-date=September 2, 2008}}

Using revenue generated by a 2% sales tax, which had been approved by Wasilla voters in October 1992,{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=582|format=PDF|page=A1|work=1992 to 2002 Budgets|title=Fiscal Year Budget 1993 part 1|publisher=City of Wasilla|date=June 30, 1994|access-date=October 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731055940/http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=582|archive-date=July 31, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Sarah Palin had turbulent first year as mayor of Alaska town|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012003304/http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2012|access-date=May 26, 2013|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=September 7, 2008|author=Armstrong, Ken|author2=Bernton, Hal}} Palin cut property taxes by 75% and eliminated personal property and business inventory taxes.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302596.html|title=As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin Cut Own Duties, Left Trail of Bad Blood|first=Alec|last=MacGillis|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 14, 2008|access-date=September 16, 2009}} Using municipal bonds, she made improvements to the roads and sewers and increased funding to the police department. She oversaw creation of new bike paths and procured funding for storm-water treatment to protect freshwater resources. At the same time, she reduced the budget of the local museum and postponed discussions about a new library and city hall, which some of the council believed was needed.

Soon after taking office in October 1996, Palin eliminated the position of museum director.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515512.html|title=Palin pressured Wasilla librarian|last=White|first=Rindi|date=September 4, 2008|work=Anchorage Daily News|page=1B|access-date=September 5, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905040240/http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515512.html|archive-date=September 5, 2008}} She asked for updated resumes and resignation letters from "city department heads who had been loyal to Stein", although the mayor's office was considered a non-partisan position.{{cite magazine|last=Thornburgh|first=Nathan|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837918,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902200419/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837918,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2008|title=Mayor Palin: A Rough Record|magazine=Time|date=September 2, 2008|access-date=October 24, 2009}} These included the city police chief, public works director, finance director, and librarian.{{cite news|title=New Wasilla mayor asks city's managers to resign in loyalty test|first=S.J.|last= Komarnitsky|page=D4|date=October 26, 1996|work=Alaska Daily News}} Palin stated this request was to find out their intentions and whether they supported her. She temporarily required department heads to get her approval before talking to reporters, saying they needed to learn her administration's policies. She created the position of city administrator and reduced her own $68,000 salary by 10%. By mid 1998 this action was reversed by the city council.{{cite news|title=Palin wins Wasilla mayor's job|date=October 2, 1996|last=Komarnitsky|first=S.J.|page= B1|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News}}

In October 1996, Palin asked library director Mary Ellen Emmons if she would object to the removal of a book from the library if people were picketing to have the book removed.{{cite news|url=http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/06/breaking_news/doc48c1c8a60d6d9379155484.txt|title=Palin: Library censorship inquiries 'Rhetorical'|last=Stuart|first=Paul|date=December 18, 1996|work=Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman|access-date=September 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919203710/http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/06/breaking_news/doc48c1c8a60d6d9379155484.txt|archive-date=September 19, 2008}} Emmons responded that she would, and others as well. Palin stated that she had not been proposing censorship but had been discussing many issues with her staff that were "both rhetorical and realistic in nature." No attempt was made to remove books from the library during Palin's tenure as mayor.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-09-Palin-book-ban_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip|title=Palin did not ban books in Wasilla as mayor|date=September 9, 2008|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=December 5, 2008|first=John|last=Fritze}}

Palin said she fired Police Chief Irl Stambaugh because he did not fully support her efforts to govern the city.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510219.html|title=Wasilla keeps librarian, but police chief is out|last=Komarnitsky|first=S.J.|date=February 1, 1997|work=Anchorage Daily News|pages=1B|access-date=August 31, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902060348/http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510219.html|archive-date=September 2, 2008}} Stambaugh filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and violation of his free speech rights.{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008151136_palin01m0.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902034254/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008151136_palin01m0.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2008|title=Palin's swift rise wins both admirers, enemies|last=Bernton|first=Hal|date=September 1, 2008|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=March 27, 2010}} The judge dismissed Stambaugh's lawsuit, holding that the police chief served at the discretion of the mayor and could be terminated for nearly any reason, even a political one,{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/158738|title=A Police Chief, A Lawsuit And A Small-Town Mayor|last=Isikoff |first=Michael|author2=Mark Hosenball|date=September 13, 2008|work=Campaign 2008|access-date=March 26, 2010}}{{cite news|last = Komarnitsky|first=S.J.|date=March 1, 2000|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F793D42B8AA7008&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Judge Backs Chief's Firing|work=Anchorage Daily News|format=archive, fee required|access-date =September 1, 2008}}ADN summary of the decision and ordered Stambaugh to pay Palin's legal fees.

During her second term as mayor, Palin proposed and promoted the construction of a municipal sports center to be financed by a 0.5% sales tax increase and a $14.7 million bond issue.{{cite news| last = Phillips| first = Michael M.| title = Palin's Hockey Rink Leads To Legal Trouble in Town She Led| work = The Wall Street Journal| date = September 6, 2008| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122065537792905483| access-date =September 8, 2008}} Voters approved the measure by a 20-vote margin, and the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex (later named the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center) was built on time and under budget. However, the city spent an additional $1.3 million because of an eminent domain lawsuit caused by the city's failure to obtain clear title to the property before beginning construction. The city's long-term debt grew from about $1 million to $25 million because of expenditures of $15 million for the sports complex, $5.5 million for street projects, and $3 million for water improvement projects. The Wall Street Journal characterized the project as a "financial mess." A city council member defended the spending increases as being necessitated by the city's growth during that time.{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/705|title=Palin "inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22-million: Numbers right, context missing|author=Truth-O-Meter|work= St. Petersburg Times|publisher= Politifact.com|date=August 31, 2008}}

Palin also joined with nearby communities in hiring the Anchorage-based lobbying firm of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh to lobby for federal funds. The firm secured nearly $8 million in earmarks for the Wasilla city government,{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=5765926&page=1|last=Schwartz|first=Emma|title=Palin's Record on Pork: Less Sizzle than Reported| date=September 10, 2008|publisher=ABC News|access-date=September 24, 2008}} including $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, and $900,000 for sewer repairs.{{cite news|last = Kane|first = Paul|title = Palin's Small Alaska Town Secured Big Federal Funds|newspaper= The Washington Post| page = A1| date = September 2, 2008| url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090103148.html?hpid=topnews| access-date =April 3, 2009}} In 2008, Wasilla's current mayor credited Palin's 75 percent property tax cuts and infrastructure improvements with bringing "big-box stores" and 50,000 shoppers per day to Wasilla.

In 2002, Palin ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, coming in second to Loren Leman in a five-way Republican primary.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/02PRIM/data/results.pdf|title=State of Alaska Primary Election – August 27, 2002 Official Results|date=September 18, 2002|access-date=June 11, 2011|publisher=Alaska Division of Elections}} Following her defeat, she campaigned throughout the state for the nominated Republican governor-lieutenant governor ticket of Frank Murkowski and Leman.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/217384.html |title=Part 2: Rebel status has fueled front-runner's success |first=Tom |last=Kizzia |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=October 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807071454/http://www.adn.com/2006/10/24/217384/part-2-rebel-status-has-fueled.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Murkowski and Leman won and Murkowski resigned from his long-held U.S. Senate seat in December 2002 to assume the governorship. Palin was said to be on the "short list" of possible appointees to Murkowski's U.S. Senate seat, but Murkowski ultimately appointed his daughter, State Representative Lisa Murkowski, as his successor in the Senate.{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/06/02/palin_murkowski|title=The Palin-Murkowski rivalry, explained|first=Shushannah|last=Walshe|date=June 2, 2010|work=Salon|access-date=July 1, 2011}}

Governor Murkowski offered other jobs to Palin and, in February 2003, she accepted an appointment to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which oversees Alaska's oil and gas fields for safety and efficiency. While she had little background in the area, she said she wanted to learn more about the oil industry and was named chair of the commission and ethics supervisor. By November 2003, she was filing nonpublic ethics complaints with the state attorney general and the governor against a fellow commission member, Randy Ruedrich, a former petroleum engineer and at the time the chair of the state Republican Party. He was forced to resign in November 2003. Palin resigned in January 2004 and put her protests against Ruedrich's "lack of ethics" into the public arena{{cite book|title=Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down|last=Johnson|first=Kaylene|date=April 1, 2008|publisher=Epicenter Press|page=80|isbn=978-0-9790470-8-4}} by filing a public complaint against Ruedrich,{{cite web|url=http://alaskareport.com/news31/z49193_randy_ruedrich.htm|title=Randy Ruedrich defiant, still employed|last1= Zaki|first1=Taufen|last2=Dennis|first2=Stephen|date=March 14, 2008|publisher=Alaska Report|access-date =September 3, 2008}} who was then fined $12,000. She joined with Democratic legislator Eric Croft{{cite news|url=http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?pg=1|title=The Most Popular Governor|last=Barnes|first=Fred|date=July 16, 2007|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=October 7, 2008|archive-date=November 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112132710/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?pg=1|url-status=dead}} in complaining that Gregg Renkes, then the attorney general of Alaska,{{cite web|url=http://www.sitnews.us/0205news/020605/020605_resignation.html|title=Attorney General Gregg Renkes Resigns| date = February 6, 2005|work=Stories in the News|publisher=SitNews.US|access-date=September 3, 2008}} had a financial conflict of interest in negotiating a coal exporting trade agreement.{{cite news|url=http://www.kinyradio.com/juneaunews/archives/week_of_03-07-05/juneau_news_03-08-05.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912045153/http://www.kinyradio.com/juneaunews/archives/week_of_03-07-05/juneau_news_03-08-05.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2008|title=Personnel board drops complaint against Renkes|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Juneau Daily News|date=March 8, 2005|access-date=February 14, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Renkes Mixed Personal, State Business|author=Dobbyn, Paula|url=http://www.adn.com/news/government/renkes/story/42104.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106125951/http://www.adn.com/news/government/renkes/story/42104.html |date = December 5, 2004| archive-date=January 6, 2009 |access-date =June 12, 2011| newspaper = Anchorage Daily News}} Renkes also resigned his post.

From 2003 to June 2005, Palin served as one of three directors of "Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.," a 527 group designed to provide political training for Republican women in Alaska.{{cite news|last=Mosk|first=Matthew|title=Palin Was a Director of Embattled Sen. Stevens's 527 Group|department=The Trail|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 1, 2008|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/palin_was_a_director_of_embatt.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901231225/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/palin_was_a_director_of_embatt.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2008|access-date=September 1, 2008}} In 2004, Palin told the Anchorage Daily News that she had decided not to run for the U.S. Senate that year against the Republican incumbent, Lisa Murkowski, because her teenage son opposed it. Palin said, "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. Senator?"{{cite news|first=Robin|last=Abcarian|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-motherhood4-2008sep04,0,1284515.story|title=Insiders see 'new feminism' Outside the GOP convention, however, questions are raised about Palin's family responsibilities|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 4, 2008|access-date=February 14, 2010}}

{{Main|Governorship of Sarah Palin}}

File:Sarah Palin Kuwait Crop2.jpg, July 24, 2007]]

In 2006, running on a clean-government platform, Palin defeated incumbent Governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican gubernatorial primary.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/30/palins-rise-shows-willingness-buck-establishment/|title= Palin's rise a model for maverick politicians|first=David R.|last=Sands| work=The Washington Times|date=August 30, 2008|access-date=September 3, 2008}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/washington/24alaskacnd.html|title=Alaska Governor Concedes Defeat in Primary|first=William|last=Yardley|access-date=September 3, 2008|date=August 23, 2006|work=The New York Times}} Her running mate was State Senator Sean Parnell.{{cite news|title=Gov. Sarah Palin (R)|work=Almanac of American Politics 2010|publisher=National Journal}}

In the November election, Palin was outspent but victorious, defeating former Democratic governor Tony Knowles 48.3% to 41.0%. She became Alaska's first female governor and, at the age of 42, the youngest governor in Alaskan history. She was the state's first governor to have been born after Alaska achieved U.S. statehood, and the first who was not inaugurated in the capital, Juneau (she chose to have the ceremony in Fairbanks instead).

She took office on December 4, 2006. For most of her term, she was very popular with Alaska voters. Polls taken in 2007 showed her with 93% and 89% popularity among all voters.{{cite news|last=Ayres|first=Sabra|title=Alaska's governor tops the approval rating charts|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-164232650/alaska-governor-tops-approval.html|format=Archives, fee required| newspaper = Anchorage Daily News| date = May 30, 2007| access-date =September 16, 2008}} The Anchorage Daily News and The Weekly Standard called her "the most popular governor in America." A poll taken in late September 2008, after Palin was named to the national Republican ticket, showed her popularity in Alaska at 68%.{{cite news|title=Palin approval rating takes huge dive|author=an Ivan Moore press release|publisher=Alaska Report|date=September 24, 2008|url=http://alaskareport.com/news98/x61643_approval_rating.htm|access-date=June 21, 2009}} A poll taken in May 2009 indicated Palin's popularity among Alaskans had declined to 54% positive and 41.6% negative.{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/515/story/1035915.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915062709/http://www.miamiherald.com/515/story/1035915.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2012|title=New poll shows slump in Palin's popularity among Alaskans|last=Cockerham|first=Sean|date=May 6, 2009| newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|access-date=May 7, 2009}}

Palin declared that top priorities of her administration would be resource development, education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development. She had championed ethics reform throughout her election campaign. Her first legislative action after taking office was to push for a bipartisan ethics reform bill. She signed the resulting legislation in July 2007, calling it a "first step" and declaring that she remained determined to clean up Alaska politics.{{cite news|last=Halpin|first=James|title=Palin signs ethics reforms|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=July 10, 2007|url=http://www.adn.com/324/story/150137.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718061523/http://www.adn.com/324/story/150137.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2008}}

Palin frequently broke with the Alaskan Republican establishment.{{cite web|url=http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/palin-watch/74-how-palin-turned-on-her-own-party-and-became-governor|title=How Palin turned on her own party and became governor|publisher=Alaska Dispatch|date=August 29, 2006|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=August 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824050207/http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/palin-watch/74-how-palin-turned-on-her-own-party-and-became-governor|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nysun.com/national/mccain-picks-alaska-governor-sarah-palin-as/84934|title=McCain Picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Running Mate|first=Russell|last=Berman|date= August 29, 2008|publisher=The New York Sun|access-date=October 24, 2009}} For example, she endorsed Parnell's bid to unseat Don Young, the state's longtime at-large U.S. Representative.{{cite news|last=Carlton|first=Jim|title=Alaska's Palin Faces Probe|work=The Wall Street Journal|page=A4|date=July 31, 2008|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121746477267499109|access-date=September 4, 2008}} She publicly challenged then-U.S. Senator Ted Stevens to "come clean" about the federal investigation into his financial dealings. She promoted the development of oil and natural-gas resources in Alaska, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Proposals to drill for oil in ANWR have catalyzed national debate.{{cite news|url=http://www.stateline.org/live/details/speech?contentId=172665|title=Alaska State of the State Address 2007|date=January 17, 2007|access-date=February 14, 2010}}

In 2006, Palin obtained a passport.{{cite news|first=Bryan|last=Bender|author2=Issenberg, Sasha|title=Palin not well traveled outside US|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/03/palin_not_well_traveled_outside_us|work=The Boston Globe|date=September 3, 2008|access-date=September 3, 2008}} In 2007, she traveled to Kuwait, where she visited the Khabari Alawazem Crossing at the Kuwait–Iraq border and met with members of the Alaska National Guard.{{cite news|first=Bryan|last=Bender|title=Palin camp clarifies extent of Iraq trip: Says she never ventured beyond Kuwait border|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/09/13/palin_camp_clarifies_extent_of_iraq_trip|work=The Boston Globe|date=September 13, 2008|access-date=September 13, 2008}} On her return journey she visited injured soldiers in Germany.{{cite news|title=Excerpts: Charlie Gibson Interviews Sarah Palin|publisher=ABC News|date=September 11, 2008|access-date=October 26, 2008|url=https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5782924}}

File:Sarah Palin Germany 3 Cropped Lightened.JPG

In June 2007, Palin signed a record $6.6 billion operating budget into law.{{cite news|last=Shinohara|first=Rosemary|title=No vetoes here|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=July 16, 2007}} At the same time, she used her veto power to make the second-largest cuts of the capital budget in state history. The $237 million in cuts represented over 300 local projects and reduced the capital budget to $1.6 billion.{{cite news|url=http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml|access-date=September 1, 2008|title=Lawmakers cringe over governor's deep budget cuts|last=Bradner|first=Tim|date=July 8, 2007|work=Alaska Journal of Commerce|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901185306/http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070807/hom_20070708005.shtml|archive-date=September 1, 2008}}

In 2008, Palin vetoed $286 million, cutting or reducing funding for 350 projects from the FY09 capital budget.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/legislature/story/415749.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527181734/http://www.adn.com/legislature/story/415749.html|archive-date=May 27, 2008|access-date=September 15, 2008|title=Palin's veto ax lops $268 million from budget|last=Cockerham|first=Sean|date=May 24, 2008|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News}}

Palin followed through on a campaign promise to sell the Westwind II jet, a purchase made by the Murkowski administration for $2.7 million in 2005 against the wishes of the legislature.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/25/us/25jet.html|title=Jet that Helped Defeat an Alaska Governor is Sold.|author=Yardley, William|work=The New York Times|date=August 25, 2007|access-date=September 18, 2008}}

In August 2007, the jet was listed on eBay, but the sale fell through, and the plane later sold for $2.1 million through a private brokerage firm.{{cite news|last=Kornblut|first=Anne Elise|author-link=Anne Kornblut|title=Governor's Plane Wasn't Sold on Ebay|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A7|date=September 6, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/05/AR2008090503722.html|access-date=April 4, 2009}}

Palin lived in Juneau during the legislative session, and lived in Wasilla and worked out of offices in Anchorage the rest of the year. Since the office in Anchorage was 565 miles from Juneau, while she worked there, state officials said she was permitted to claim a $58 per diem travel allowance and reimbursement for hotel. She filed for per diem, claiming a total of $16,951, but rather than stay at a hotel overnight, regularly commuted the 50 miles one way to her home in Wasilla.{{cite news|last1=Grimaldi|first1=James V.|author-link=James V. Grimaldi|last2=Vick|first2=Karl|title=Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home – Taxpayers Also Funded Family's Travel|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=A1|date=September 9, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090803088.html|access-date=April 4, 2009}} She did not use the former governor's private chef."Palin does not use the governor's private chef, whom Palin transferred to the Lounge of the State Legislature", The Anchorage Daily News, January 20, 2008.

Both Republicans and Democrats criticized Palin for taking the per diem, as well as an additional $43,490 in travel expenses on occasions when her family accompanied her on state business.{{cite web|first=Joan|last=Walsh|url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/politics/2009/07/09/palin_lying|title=Why is Palin lying about state ethics probes?|work=Salon|date=July 9, 2009|access-date=October 24, 2009}} Palin's staffers responded that these practices were in line with state policy, that her gubernatorial expenses were 80% below those of her predecessor Murkowski,{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Luo|author2=Wayne, Leslie|title=Palin Aides Defend Billing State for Time at Home|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/politics/10billing.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 9, 2008}} and that "many of the hundreds of invitations Palin receives include requests for her to bring her family, placing the definition of 'state business' with the party extending the invitation."

In February 2009, the State of Alaska, reversing a policy that had treated the payments as legitimate business expenses under the Internal Revenue Code, decided that per diems paid to state employees for stays in their own homes would be treated as taxable income and will be included in employees' gross income on their W-2 forms.{{cite news|title=Palin Now Owes Taxes on Payments for Nights at Home, State Rules|first=James V.|last=Grimaldi|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 19, 2009|page=A04|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021803177.html?nav=hcmoduletmv|access-date=June 21, 2009}} Palin had ordered the review of the tax policy.{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Demer|title=Palin owes tax on per diem, state says|url=http://www.adn.com/palin/story/693695.html|work=Anchorage Daily News|date=February 17, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2009|quote='At the Governor's request, we reviewed the situation to determine whether we were in full compliance with the pertinent Internal Revenue Service regulations,' Kreitzer wrote.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219152928/http://www.adn.com//palin//story//693695.html|archive-date=February 19, 2009}}

In December 2008, an Alaska state commission recommended increasing the governor's annual salary from $125,000 to $150,000. Palin said that she would not accept the pay raise.{{cite news|first=Kyle|last=Hopkins|title=Palin won't accept raise|url=http://www.adn.com/palin/story/626781.html|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=December 17, 2008|quote=But if the commission pushes ahead with a pay raise, Palin won't accept the money, said spokesman Bill McAllister.|access-date=January 12, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201194921/http://www.adn.com/palin/story/626781.html|archive-date=February 1, 2009}} In response, the commission dropped the recommendation.{{cite news|title=State commission nixes Palin pay increase|url=http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/650524.html|agency=Associated Press staff|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=January 11, 2009|access-date=January 12, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119043053/http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/650524.html|archive-date=January 19, 2009}}

In her State of the State address on January 17, 2008, Palin declared that the people of Alaska "can and must continue to develop our economy, because we cannot and must not rely so heavily on federal government [funding]."{{cite web|url=http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11244|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113165553/http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11244|title=Alaska Begins to Grow Up|work=Wastewatcher, January 2008|publisher=Citizens Against Government Waste|first=Leslie K.|last=Paige|date=January 29, 2008|archive-date=January 13, 2009|access-date=June 12, 2011}} Alaska's federal congressional representatives cut back on pork-barrel project requests during Palin's time as governor.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26611103|title=McCain, Palin criticize Obama on earmarks|author=|work=Decision 2008 archive – John McCain News|publisher=NBC News|date=September 8, 2008|access-date=September 16, 2008}}

While the state has no sales tax or income tax, royalty revenues from the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field (consisting mostly of state-owned lands) have supported large state budgets since 1980. The exact amounts have depended on the prevailing price of petroleum. As a result, state revenues doubled to $10 billion in 2008. Despite this, for the 2009 state budget, Palin gave a list of 31 proposed federal earmarks or requests for funding, totaling $197 million, to Alaska's senior U.S. senator Ted Stevens. This was a major decrease from earlier years.{{cite news|work=The Seattle Times |title=Palin's earmark requests: more per person than any other state |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008154532_webpalin02m.html |first=Hal |last=Bernton |author2=Heath, David |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707152514/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008154532_webpalin02m.html |archive-date=July 7, 2009}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|last=Taylor|first=Andrew|url=http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/09/02/1817859-palins-pork-requests-confound-reformer-image|title=Palin's pork requests confound reformer image|date=September 2, 2008|access-date=October 23, 2008}} Palin has said that her decreasing support for federal funding was a source of friction between her and the state's congressional delegation; Palin requested less in federal funding each year than her predecessor Frank Murkowski requested in his last year.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/politics/story/516743.html|title=Palin's Take On Earmarks Evolving|last=Bolstad|first=Erika|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=September 8, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020074550/http://www.adn.com/politics/story/516743.html|archive-date=October 20, 2008}}

{{Main|Gravina Island Bridge}}

File:palin nowhere.jpg during her gubernatorial campaign, 2006]]

In 2002, it was proposed that a for-profit prison corporation, Cornell Corrections, build a prison on Gravina Island. To connect Gravina with nearby Ketchikan, on Revillagigedo Island, it was originally planned that the federal government spend $175 million on building a bridge and another $75 million to connect it to the power grid with an electrical intertie. The Ketchikan Borough Assembly turned the proposal down when the administration of Governor Tony Knowles also expressed its disfavor with the idea. Eventually, the corporation's prison plans led to the exposure of the wide-ranging Alaska political corruption probe, which eventually ensnared Alaska's U.S. senator Ted Stevens. The bridge idea persisted through the administration of former U.S. senator and then-governor Frank Murkowski. The 2005 Highway Bill provided for $223m to build the Gravina Island Bridge. The provisions and earmarks[http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/08/politics-of-the-bridge-to-nowhere.aspx The Politics of the 'Bridge to Nowhere'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910040255/http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/09/08/politics-of-the-bridge-to-nowhere.aspx |date=September 10, 2008}}. Newsweek (September 8, 2008). Retrieved May 8, 2019. were negotiated by Alaska's Rep. Don Young, who chaired the House Transportation Committee, and were supported by the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Ted Stevens.[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/8/alaska-kills-bridge-to-nowhere-that-helped-put-end/ Alaska kills infamous 'bridge to nowhere' that helped put end to earmarks], Washington Times, Stephen Dinan, November 8, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2019. This bridge, nicknamed "The Bridge to Nowhere" by critics, was intended to replace the auto ferry that is currently the only connection between Ketchikan and its airport. While the federal earmark was withdrawn after meeting opposition from Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn, the state of Alaska still received $300 million in transportation funding, with which the state of Alaska continued to study improvements in access to the airport, which conceivably could include improvements to the ferry service.[http://juneauempire.com/state/2013-07-01/state-studying-ways-link-ketchikan-gravina-island State studying ways to link Ketchikan, Gravina Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025232421/http://juneauempire.com/state/2013-07-01/state-studying-ways-link-ketchikan-gravina-island |date=October 25, 2015}}. Bohrer, Becky. Juneau Empire, July 1, 2013 In 2006, Palin had run for governor with a "build-the-bridge" plank in her platform,{{cite news|title=Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere,' doesn't note flip-flop|work=Anchorage Daily News|first=Tom|last=Kizzia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329220418/http://www.adn.com/2008/08/31/511471/palin-touts-stance-on-bridge-to.html|archive-date=March 29, 2010|url=http://www.adn.com/2008/08/31/511471/palin-touts-stance-on-bridge-to.html| date=August 31, 2008}} saying she would "not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project ... into something that's so negative."{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-31-palin-bridge_N.htm|title=Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006|work=USA Today|author=Dilanian, Ken|date=August 31, 2008|quote='We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge, and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative,' Palin said in August 2006, according to the Ketchikan (Alaska) Daily News.|access-date=February 14, 2010}} Palin criticized the use of the word "nowhere" as insulting to local residents{{cite news|author=|title=Where they stand|page=A12|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=October 22, 2006|quote=5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges? Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now – while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.}} and urged speedy work on building the infrastructure "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." Despite the demise of the bridge proposal, Palin spent $26 million in transportation funding for the planned 3-mile access road on Gravina island that ultimately had little use.[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/24/palin.road.to.nowhere/ The bridge failed, but the 'Road to Nowhere' was built], CNN, Abbie Boudreau and Scott Bronstein, September 24, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/us/23bridge.html|date=September 23, 2007|work=The New York Times|title=Alaska Seeks Alternative to Bridge Plan|agency=Associated Press|access-date=April 3, 2009}} A spokesman for Alaska's Department of Transportation said that it had been within Palin's power to cancel the road project but noted the state was considering cheaper designs to complete the bridge project, and that in any case the road would open up the surrounding lands for development.{{cite news|title=Alaska town opens 'road to nowhere'|first=Steve|last=Quinn|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-09-20-2839100226_x.htm|agency=Associated Press|work=USA Today|date=September 20, 2008|access-date=April 28, 2009|quote="Roger Wetherell, speaking for the state Transportation Department, said the road opened several days ago might someday get people to and from Gravina Island after all, if cheaper designs for a bridge become a reality. Meantime, it opens access to land development, he said."}} As governor, Palin canceled the Gravina Island Bridge in September 2007, saying that Congress had "little interest in spending any more money" due to "inaccurate portrayals of the projects."{{cite press release| url =http://www.dot.state.ak.us/comm/pressbox/arch_2007/PR_0921_GravinaAccessProjRed.pdf| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090429205108/http://www.dot.state.ak.us/comm/pressbox/arch_2007/PR_0921_GravinaAccessProjRed.pdf| url-status=dead| archive-date =April 29, 2009|title=Gravina Access Project Redirected|date=September 21, 2007|author=Governor's Office|work=Press release 0921|publisher=Governor's Office–State of Alaska|quote=Governor Sarah Palin today directed the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to look for the most fiscally responsible alternative for access to the Ketchikan airport and Gravina Island rather than the proposed $398 million bridge.|access-date =February 9, 2010}} Alaska did not return the $442 million in federal transportation funds.{{cite news|last=Rosen|first=Yereth|title=Palin 'bridge to nowhere' line angers many Alaskans|work=Reuters|date=September 1, 2008|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN3125537020080901|access-date=September 1, 2008|quote=In the city [of] Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called 'Bridge to Nowhere,' political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community....}}

In 2008, as a vice-presidential candidate, Palin characterized her position as having told Congress "thanks, but no thanks, on that bridge to nowhere." A number of Ketchikan residents said that the claim was false and a betrayal of Palin's previous support for their community. Some critics said that her statement was misleading, as she had expressed support for the spending project and kept the federal money after the project was canceled.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/18/fact-check-did-palin-say-no-thanks-to-the-bridge-to-nowhere|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921002944/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/18/fact-check-did-palin-say-no-thanks-to-the-bridge-to-nowhere/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2008|title=Fact Check: Did Palin say 'no thanks' to the Bridge to Nowhere?|work=CNN Politics, Political Ticker|date=September 18, 2008|publisher=CNN|quote=The Facts: Palin voiced support for the plan while running for governor...She rejected the bridge after she was elected and the project became a famous symbol of government waste.|access-date=June 21, 2009}}

{{See also|Alaska gas pipeline}}

In August 2008, Palin signed a bill authorizing the State of Alaska to award TransCanada Pipelines—the sole bidder to meet the state's requirements—a license to build and operate a pipeline to transport natural gas from the Alaska North Slope to the continental United States through Canada.{{cite news|first=Yereth|last=Rosen|title=Alaska governor signs natgas pipeline license bill|work=Calgary Herald|date=August 27, 2008|access-date=September 5, 2008|url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=2e84b1e8-9a4a-4558-ad05-21b517c50fae|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903092526/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=2e84b1e8-9a4a-4558-ad05-21b517c50fae|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2008}} The governor also pledged $500 million in seed money to support the project.{{cite web|date=March 2, 2007|url=http://gov.state.ak.us/print_news.php?id=170|title=Governor Palin Unveils the AGIA|work=News & Announcements|publisher=State of Alaska|access-date=May 27, 2010|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/1200/20090726180436/http://gov.state.ak.us/print_news.php?id=170|archive-date=July 26, 2009}}

It was estimated that the project would cost $26 billion. Newsweek described the project as "the principal achievement of Sarah Palin's term as Alaska's governor."{{cite news|title=Periscope: Palin's Pipeline to Nowhere|first=Mark|last=Hosenball|work=Newsweek|date=September 20, 2008|format=From the magazine issue dated September 29, 2008|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/160088|access-date=September 23, 2008}} The pipeline also faces legal challenges from Canadian First Nations.

{{See also|Governorship of Sarah Palin#Environment}}

In 2007, Palin supported a 2003 Alaska Department of Fish and Game policy allowing the hunting of wolves from the air as part of a predator control program intended to increase moose and caribou populations for subsistence-food gatherers and other hunters.{{cite news| url = http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/032207/sta_20070322019.shtml| title = State puts bounty on wolves to boost predator control| work = Juneau Empire Story Archive| agency = Associated Press | date = March 22, 2007| access-date = February 14, 2010| archive-date = October 16, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111016221458/http://juneauempire.com/stories/032207/sta_20070322019.shtml| url-status = dead}}{{cite press release| url = http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/2007/5-11-07_nr.php| title = Governor Palin Introduces Bill to Streamline Predator Management Laws| date = May 11, 2007| publisher = Alaska Department of Game and Fish| access-date =June 21, 2009}} In March 2007, the department offered a bounty of $150 per wolf would be paid to the 180 volunteer pilots and gunners in five areas of Alaska to offset fuel costs. In the preceding four years, 607 wolves had been killed. State biologists wanted 382 to 664 wolves to be killed by the end of the predator-control season in April 2007. Wildlife activists sued the state- A state judge declared the bounty illegal on the basis that a bounty would have to be offered by the Board of Game and not by the Department of Fish and Game.{{cite news| author = deMarban, Alex| url = http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/wolves/story/204937.html| title = Judge orders state to stop wolf bounties: Option: The ruling says Game Board has authority to offer cash incentives| newspaper = Anchorage Daily News| date = March 31, 2007| access-date = February 14, 2010| archive-date = February 11, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100211102141/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/wolves/story/204937.html| url-status = dead}} On August 26, 2008, Alaskans voted against ending the state's predator control program.{{cite news|title=Alaska voters shoot down predator control initiative|url=http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/26/alaska-voters-shoot-down-predator-control-initiati/|publisher=newsminer.com |date=August 27, 2008 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914102538/http://newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/26/alaska-voters-shoot-down-predator-control-initiati/ |archive-date =September 14, 2008}}

{{Main|Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal}}

Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan on July 11, 2008, citing performance-related issues, such as not being "a team player on budgeting issues" and "egregious rogue behavior."{{cite news| first=Dan| last=Fagan| date=September 16, 2008| title=No one is above the truth, even Palin| work=Opinion| publisher=Anchorage Daily News| url=http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/528420.html| access-date=October 1, 2009| archive-date=December 4, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204082423/http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/528420.html| url-status=dead}} Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein said that the "last straw" was Monegan's planned trip to Washington, D.C., to seek funding for a new, multimillion-dollar sexual assault initiative the governor hadn't yet approved.{{cite news| first=Wesley| last=Loy| date=September 16, 2008| title=Palin accuses Monegan of insubordination, Troopergate: Governor's lawyer attempts to clear her of misconduct in the firing| newspaper=Anchorage Daily News| url=http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/527346.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724095247/http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/527346.html| archive-date=July 24, 2009}}

Monegan said that he had resisted persistent pressure from Palin, her husband, and her staff, including state Attorney General Talis J. Colberg, to fire Palin's ex-brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten; Wooten was involved in a child custody battle with Palin's sister after a bitter divorce that included an alleged death threat against Palin's father.{{cite news| last = Demer| first = Lisa| url = http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510080.html| title = 'Troopergate' inquiry hangs over campaign| newspaper = Anchorage Daily News| date = August 30, 2008| quote = For the record, no one ever said fire Wooten. Not the governor. Not Todd. Not any of the other staff. What they said directly was more along the lines of 'This isn't a person that we would want to be representing our state troopers.'| access-date = September 5, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080905015703/http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510080.html| archive-date = September 5, 2008}}{{cite news | first = Megan | last = Holland | title = Monegan says he was pressured to fire cop | date = July 19, 2008 |newspaper = Anchorage Daily News|page=A1}} At one point Sarah and Todd Palin hired a private investigator to gather information, seeking to have Wooten officially disciplined. Monegan stated that he learned an internal investigation had found all but two of the allegations to be unsubstantiated, and Wooten had been disciplined for the others – an illegal moose killing and the tasering of his 11-year-old stepson, who had reportedly asked to be tasered. He told the Palins that there was nothing he could do because the matter was closed. When contacted by the press for comment, Monegan first acknowledged pressure to fire Wooten but said that he could not be certain that his own firing was connected to that issue; he later asserted that the dispute over Wooten was a major reason for his firing.{{cite news|last=Demer|first=Lisa|url=http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510080.html|title='Troopergate' inquiry hangs over campaign|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=August 30, 2008|access-date=September 5, 2008|quote=Monegan said he believes his firing was directly related to the fact Wooten stayed on the job.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905015703/http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510080.html|archive-date=September 5, 2008}} Palin stated on July 17 that Monegan was not pressured to fire Wooten, nor dismissed for not doing so.{{cite news|first=Sean|last=Cockerham|title=Palin staff pushed to have trooper fired|url=http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/492964.html|work=Anchorage Daily News|date=August 14, 2008|access-date=September 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826101457/http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/492964.html|archive-date=August 26, 2008}}{{cite news|title=Long-Standing Feud in Alaska Embroils Palin|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Grimaldi, James V.|author2=Kindy, Kimberly|date=August 31, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083002366.html?hpid=topnews|access-date=August 31, 2008}}

Monegan said the subject of Wooten came up when he invited Palin to a birthday party for his cousin, state senator Lyman Hoffman, in February 2007 during the legislative session in Juneau. "As we were walking down the stairs in the capitol building she wanted to talk to me about her former brother-in-law," Monegan said. "I said, 'Ma'am, I need to keep you at arm's length with this. I can't deal about him with you.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/08/monegan_to_palin_maam_i_need_t.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901233801/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/08/monegan_to_palin_maam_i_need_t.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2008|date=August 30, 2008|title=Monegan to Palin: 'Ma'am, I Need to Keep You at Arm's Length'|work=The Washington Post Investigations|access-date=September 5, 2008}} She said, 'OK, that's a good idea.'"

Palin said there was "absolutely no pressure ever put on Commissioner Monegan to hire or fire anybody, at any time. I did not abuse my office powers. And I don't know how to be more blunt and candid and honest, but to tell you that truth. To tell you that no pressure was ever put on anybody to fire anybody." Todd Palin gave a similar account.{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Simon|date=November 7, 2008|url=http://www.ktva.com/news/local/Monegan-Says-Palin-Administration-Husband-Used-Governors-Office-to-Pressure-Firing-First-Familys-Former-Brother-in-Law-116778328.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928040453/http://www.ktva.com/news/local/Monegan-Says-Palin-Administration-Husband-Used-Governors-Office-to-Pressure-Firing-First-Familys-Former-Brother-in-Law-116778328.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2011|title=Monegan Says Palin Administration, Husband Used Governor's Office to Pressure Firing First Family's Former Brother-in-Law|publisher=KTVA, CBS News 11|access-date=July 1, 2011}}

On August 13, she acknowledged that a half dozen members of her administration had made more than two dozen calls on the matter to various state officials. "I do now have to tell Alaskans that such pressure could have been perceived to exist, although I have only now become aware of it", she said.{{cite news|title=Palin E-Mails Show Intense Interest in Trooper's Penalty|last=Grimaldi|first=James V.|author2=Vick, Karl|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 4, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303210_pf.html|access-date=August 3, 2008}} Palin said, "Many of these inquiries were completely appropriate. However, the serial nature of the contacts could be perceived as some kind of pressure, presumably at my direction."{{cite web|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/48172.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901001514/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/48172.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2008|title=Alaska's governor admits her staff tried to have trooper fired|author=Cockerham, Sean|work=Anchorage Daily News|date=August 14, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2008}}

Chuck Kopp, whom Palin had appointed to replace Monegan as public safety commissioner, received a $10,000 state severance package after he resigned following just two weeks on the job. Kopp, the former Kenai chief of police, resigned July 25 following disclosure of a 2005 sexual harassment complaint and letter of reprimand against him. Monegan said that he did not receive a severance package from the state.

On August 1, 2008, the Alaska Legislature hired an investigator, Stephen Branchflower, to review the Monegan dismissal. Legislators stated that Palin had the legal authority to fire Monegan, but they wanted to know whether her action had been motivated by anger at Monegan for not firing Wooten.{{cite news|last=Espo|first=David|title=Palin probe has parallels to 2000 recount fight|work=The Boston Globe|date=September 19, 2008|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/09/19/palin_probe_has_parallels_to_2000_recount_fight|access-date=June 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104173021/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/09/19/palin_probe_has_parallels_to_2000_recount_fight|archive-date=January 4, 2009}} The atmosphere was bipartisan and Palin pledged to cooperate.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/478090.html|title=Hired help will probe Monegan dismissal|author=Loy, Wesley|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=July 29, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831213521/http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/478090.html|archive-date=August 31, 2008}} Wooten remained employed as a state trooper.{{cite news|title=Is Wooten a good trooper?|author=Demer, Lisa|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|page=A1|date=July 27, 2008}} She placed an aide on paid leave due to a tape-recorded phone conversation that she deemed improper, in which the aide, appearing to act on her behalf, complained to a trooper that Wooten had not been fired.{{cite news|url=http://community.adn.com/adn/node/128981|last=Hulen|first=David|title=Namely, specifically, most disturbing, is a telephone recording apparently made and preserved by the troopers...|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=August 13, 2008|access-date=June 21, 2009|archive-date=July 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726101413/http://community.adn.com/adn/node/128981|url-status=dead}}

Several weeks after the start of what the media referred to as "troopergate", Palin was chosen as John McCain's running mate. On September 1, Palin asked the legislature to drop its investigation, saying that the state Personnel Board had jurisdiction over ethics issues.{{cite news|first=Lisa|last=Demer|date=September 3, 2008|title=Palin seeks review of Monegan firing case: Board: Governor makes ethics complaint against herself to force action|url=http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/514163.html|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|access-date=September 5, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905080059/http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/514163.html|archive-date=September 5, 2008}} The Personnel Board's three members were first appointed by Palin's predecessor, and Palin reappointed one member in 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/03/palin.investigation|title=Palin wants quick state board ruling in trooper probe|work=ElectionCenter2008|date=September 3, 2008|publisher=CNN}} On September 19, Todd Palin and several state employees refused to honor subpoenas, the validity of which were disputed by Talis Colberg, Palin's appointee as Alaska's attorney general.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |title=Alaska AG: Palin subpoenas won't be honored and five Alaska lawmakers file suit to end 'Troopergate' probe|publisher=NBC News|date=September 16, 2008| url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26742379|access-date=February 10, 2010}} On October 2, a court rejected Colberg's challenge to the subpoenas,{{cite news|last=Cockerham|first=Sean|title=Judge refuses to halt Troopergate probe|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=October 2, 2008|url=http://www.adn.com/palin/story/543892.html|access-date=June 21, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713082945/http://www.adn.com/palin/story/543892.html|archive-date=July 13, 2009}} and seven of the witnesses, not including Todd Palin, eventually testified.{{cite news|title=7 Palin aides to testify in abuse-of-power probe|agency=Associated Press|date=October 5, 2008|last=Apuzzo|first=Matt|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-10-05-1503106214_x.htm|access-date=November 16, 2008}}

On October 10, 2008, the Alaska Legislative Council unanimously voted to release, without endorsing,{{cite news|last=Spence|first=Hal|title=Branchflower report draws mixed reactions|work=Peninsula Clarion|location=Kenai, Alaska|date=October 12, 2008|quote=The council voted unanimously to make the report public, but did not vote to endorse its findings.}} the Branchflower Report, in which investigator Stephen Branchflower found that firing Monegan "was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority," but that Palin abused her power as governor and violated the state's Executive Branch Ethics Act when her office pressured Monegan to fire Wooten.{{cite report |last=Branchflower |first=Stephen |title=Report to the Legislative Council, Public Report |publisher= State of Alaska Legislature |url=http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf |date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011024655/http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf |archive-date=October 11, 2008}} Report consists of 268 pages, see page 8 for the findings. The report stated that "Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired."{{harvnb|Branchflower|2008|p=66}} The report also said that Palin "permitted Todd Palin to use the Governor's office [...] to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired."{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6004368&page=1|title=Troopergate Report: Palin Abused Power: Palin Says She Did 'Nothing Unlawful or Unethical' in Firing of Safety Commissioner|author=Rood, Justin |author2=Rutherford, Jessica |author3=Delawala, Imtiyaz|publisher=ABC News|date=October 10, 2008|access-date= October 10, 2008}} The report further found that Colberg had failed to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Palin's attorneys condemned the Branchflower Report as "misleading and wrong on the law"[https://web.archive.org/web/20120117174749/http://www.scribd.com/doc/6501311/Palins-Attorney-Responds-to-Branchflower-Report-on-Palin The Governor's Attorney Condemns the Branchflower Report as Misleading and Wrong on the Law] scribd.com, statement from Clapp, Peterson, Van Flein, Tiemessen, Thorsness LLC, October 11, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2010. and an attempt to "smear the governor by innuendo."{{cite news| last=Dobbs| first= Michael |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/10/four_pinocchios_for_palin.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203121608/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/10/four_pinocchios_for_palin.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2009| title=Four Pinocchios for Palin| work=The Fact Checker, Candidate Watch| date=October 13, 2008}} The day after the report was released, Palin said she was "very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing" or "any kind of unethical activity."{{cite web| last=Demer| first=Lisa| url=http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132625| title=Palin: 'Very much appreciating being cleared of any legal wrongdoing or unethical activity at all' (Updated with audio)| work=Alaska Politics Blog| publisher=Anchorage Daily News| date=October 11, 2008| access-date=October 24, 2009| archive-date=October 3, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003201458/http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132625| url-status=dead}}

The bipartisan State of Alaska Personnel Board reviewed the matter at Palin's request.{{cite news | first = Lisa | last = Demer | title = Attorney challenges Monegan firing inquiry | date = September 2, 2008 | work = Anchorage Daily News | url = http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/513137.html | access-date = September 2, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080903025551/http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/513137.html | archive-date = September 3, 2008}} On September 15, the Anchorage law firm of Clapp, Peterson, Van Flein, Tiemessen & Thorsness filed arguments of "no probable cause" with the Personnel Board on behalf of Palin.{{cite web| last = Van Flein, Thomas| page = 54| url = http://sayanythingblog.s3.amazonaws.com/09-08/palin-response.pdf| title = Before The State Of Alaska Personnel Board, In The Matter of Sarah Palin, Governor, Motion For Determination Of No Probable Cause| date = September 15, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002001438/http://sayanythingblog.s3.amazonaws.com/09-08/palin-response.pdf| archive-date = October 2, 2008}}{{cite news| last = Loy| first = Wesley| title = 'Rogue' Monegan accused of insubordination|newspaper = Anchorage Daily News| date = September 16, 2008|page= A1}} The Personnel Board retained independent counsel Timothy Petumenos as an investigator. On October 24, Palin gave three hours of depositions with the Personnel Board in St. Louis, Missouri.{{cite news|title = Palin gives deposition in trooper case| work=ElectionCenter200|publisher=CNN | date = October 25, 2008| url =http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/24/palin.deposition/| access-date = October 26, 2008}} On November 3, 2008, the State of Alaska Personnel Board reported that there was no probable cause to believe that Palin or any other state official had violated state ethical standards.[http://doa.alaska.gov/dop/fileadmin/PersonnelBoardReports/MoneganComplaint.pdf State of Alaska Personnel Board Report of Findings and Recommendations] November 3, 2008. pdf file of Independent Counsel Timothy Petumenos' report. Retrieved November 24, 2010.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/03/2nd_alaska_probe_finds_palin_d.html?hpid=topnews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708232916/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/03/2nd_alaska_probe_finds_palin_d.html?hpid=topnews |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2009 |title=2nd Alaska Probe Finds Palin Did Not Violate Ethics Rules|first=James V.|last= Grimaldi|work=The Trail|date=November 3, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/palin.investigation/index.html|title=Palin didn't violate ethics law, 2nd probe finds|publisher=CNN|date=November 3, 2008|access-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325171221/http://articles.cnn.com/2008-11-03/politics/palin.investigation_1_van-flein-monegan-alaska-executive-ethics-act?_s=PM:POLITICS|archive-date=March 25, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/us/politics/04palin.html|title=Report Backs Palin in Firing of Commissioner|first=William|last=Yardley|author2=Serge F. Kovaleski|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 2008}}{{cite news|title=Report clears Palin in Troopergate probe|first=Rachel|last=D'Oro|date=November 3, 2008|agency=Associated Press|work=The Seattle Times|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008346215_appalintroopergate.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629081225/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008346215_appalintroopergate.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2011|access-date=November 4, 2008}} The report further stated that the Branchflower Report used the wrong statute in reaching its conclusions, misconstrued the available evidence and did not consider or obtain all of the material evidence required to properly reach findings in the matter.

As governor of Alaska, Palin's job approval rating ranged from a high of 93% in May 2007 to a low of 54% in May 2009.[http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/State50StateGovernor061120.htm SurveyUSA website, "APPROVAL RATINGS FOR ALL 50 GOVERNORS (Released 11/20/06)"]; retrieved December 15, 2010.

On July 3, 2009, Palin announced that she would not run for reelection in the 2010 Alaska gubernatorial election and would resign before the end of the month. Palin stated that since August 2008, both she and the state had been spending an "insane" amount of time and money ($2.5 million) responding to "opposition research", 150 FOIA requests and 15 "frivolous" legal ethics complaints filed by "political operatives" against her.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/us/06palin.html| title=Legal Bills Swayed Palin, Official Says| work=The New York Times| date=July 5, 2009}}{{cite news| last=Carlton| first=Jim| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124691179571701975| title=Palin Confidante Says Governor Felt Hampered by Probes| work=The Wall Street Journal| date=July 7, 2009}} She said her resignation was also influenced by her desire not to be a lame duck.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/07/03/palins_remarks_in_stepping_dow.html?wprss=44|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127173218/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/07/03/palins_remarks_in_stepping_dow.html?wprss=44|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 27, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|format=Transcript and Video|title=Palin's Reasons for Stepping Down|date= July 3, 2009}}

Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell said that Palin's decision to resign was driven by the high cost of legal fees against ethics investigations; Palin and her husband Todd personally incurred more than $500,000 in legal expenses. Parnell became governor on July 26, 2009, in an inaugural ceremony in Fairbanks, upon Palin's resignation taking effect.{{cite video|url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/PowerCe|title=Video of Alaska Governor Transfer of Power Ceremony|work=C-SPAN|date=July 26, 2009|access-date=December 16, 2010|format=Outgoing Governor Sarah Palin "farewell speech" at 6:00min}}

In December 2010, new rules governing Alaska executive branch ethics, stemming from Palin's tenure as governor, took effect.

"These include allowing for the state to pay legal costs for officials cleared of ethics violations; (and) allowing for a family member of the governor or lieutenant governor to travel at state cost in certain circumstances ..."[https://web.archive.org/web/20101213194936/http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/10563878/article-New-ethics-rules-in-Alaska-to-take-effect-Dec--22?instance=home_news_window_left_bullets "New ethics rules in Alaska to take effect Dec. 22"], Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, December 7, 2010; retrieved January 30, 2011.

{{Main|Vice presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin|John McCain 2008 presidential campaign}}

{{See also|Republican Party (United States) vice presidential candidates, 2008}}

File:Palin waving-RNC-20080903 cropped.jpg in Saint Paul, Minnesota]]

Several conservative commentators met Palin in the summer of 2007.{{cite magazine|last=Mayer|first=Jane|author-link=Jane Mayer|magazine=The New Yorker|title=The Insiders: How John McCain came to pick Sarah Palin|date=October 27, 2008|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/27/081027fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=1|access-date=June 21, 2009}} Some of them, such as Bill Kristol, later urged McCain to pick Palin as his vice presidential running mate, arguing that her presence on the ticket would provide a boost in enthusiasm among the Religious Right wing of the Republican party, while her status as an unknown on the national scene would also be a positive factor.{{cite interview|subject=Horton, Scott|interviewer=Glenn Greenwald|title=Salon Radio: Scott Horton|type=Transcript and link to Audio|url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/radio/2008/10/15/horton/index1.html|date=October 15, 2008|access-date=June 21, 2009}}

On August 24, 2008, Steve Schmidt and a few other senior McCain campaign advisers discussed potential vice presidential picks with the consensus settling around Palin. The following day, the strategists advised McCain of their conclusions and McCain personally called Palin, who was at the Alaska State Fair.{{cite news|last=Draper|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Draper|title=The Making (and Remaking and Remaking) of McCain|work=The New York Times Magazine|date=October 26, 2008|pages=52–59, 74, 112|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/magazine/26mccain-t.html|access-date=September 6, 2009}}

On August 27, Palin visited McCain's vacation home near Sedona, Arizona, where she was offered the position of vice-presidential candidate.{{cite news | last1 = Balz | first1 = Dan | author-link = Dan Balz | last2 = Barnes | first2 = Robert | title = Palin Made an Impression From the Start | department=The Making Of A Running Mate | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = August 31, 2008 | page = A1 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083002377.html | access-date = September 6, 2009}} According to Jill Hazelbaker, a spokeswoman for McCain, he had previously met Palin at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington in February 2008 and had come away "extraordinarily impressed."{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Susan | department=Washington Wire|work=The Wall Street Journal|title=When John Met Sarah: How McCain Picked Palin| date=August 29, 2008| url =https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/29/when-john-met-sarah-how-mccain-picked-palin|access-date = October 21, 2008}} Palin was the only prospective running mate who had a face-to-face interview with McCain to discuss joining the ticket that week.{{cite news|last1=Bumiller|first1=Elizabeth|author-link=Elizabeth Bumiller|last2=Cooper|first2=Michael|title = Conservative Ire Pushed McCain From Lieberman|work=The New York Times|date=August 31, 2008|page=A26|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/politics/31reconstruct.html|access-date=September 6, 2009}} Nonetheless, Palin's selection was a surprise to many because a main criticism he had of Obama was his lack of experience, and speculation had centered on other candidates, such as Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, U.S. senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, and former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge. On August 29, in Dayton, Ohio, McCain introduced Palin as his running mate, making her the first Alaskan and the second woman to run on a major U.S. party ticket.The first woman was Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1984, who ran with former vice-president Walter Mondale.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/palin.republican.vp.candidate/index.html|title=McCain taps Alaska Gov. Palin as vice president pick|work=ElectionCenter2008|publisher=CNN|date=August 29, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2008}}

Palin was largely unknown outside Alaska before her selection by McCain.Frank Newport, [https://news.gallup.com/poll/109951/palin-unknown-most-americans.aspx Palin Unknown to Most Americans: Immediate reaction on par with reaction to Biden], Gallup (August 30, 2008). On September 1, 2008, Palin revealed that her daughter Bristol was pregnant and that she would marry the child's father, Levi Johnston.{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|last2=Vick|first2=Karl|title=No Surprises From Palin, McCain Team Says|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 2, 2008|page=A17|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090100710.html|access-date=September 6, 2009}} During this period, some Republicans felt that Palin was being unfairly attacked by the media.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/05/republicans_point_fingers_at_media_over_palin_coverage/ | title = Republicans point fingers at media over Palin coverage | newspaper = Boston Globe | author = Wangsness, Lisa | date = September 5, 2008| access-date=September 8, 2008}} Timothy Noah of Slate magazine predicted that Palin's acceptance speech would be "wildly overpraised" and might end speculation that she was unqualified for the job of vice president because the press had been beating her up for "various trivial shortcomings" and had lowered the expectations for her speech.{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2199322|title=Sarah Palin Wows Convention! Why success is foreordained . . . .|last=Noah|first=Timothy|date=September 3, 2008|work=Slate|access-date=May 20, 2010}} On September 3, 2008, Palin delivered a 40-minute acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention that was well received and watched by more than 40 million people.{{cite news | title = More than 40 million people see Palin speech| url = https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-09-04-1857998614_x.htm| agency = Associated Press | work = USA Today | date = September 4, 2008| access-date = August 7, 2012 | first=David | last=Bauder}} Wall Street Journal writer Thomas Frank noted the irony in her unattributed quoting of right-wing faux populist Westbrook Pegler's treacly, "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty and sincerity and dignity."{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122100226859616967| work=The Wall Street Journal | title=The GOP Loves the Heartland To Death | date=September 10, 2008|access-date=December 18, 2021 | first=Thomas | last=Frank}}

File:McCainPalin1.jpg, September 2008]]

During the campaign, controversy erupted over alleged differences between Palin's positions as a gubernatorial candidate and her position as a vice-presidential candidate. After McCain introduced Palin as his running mate, Newsweek and Time put Palin on their magazine covers,{{cite web | author = Calderone, Michael | title = Sarah Palin has yet to meet the press | date = September 6, 2008 | publisher = Politico | access-date = January 18, 2022 | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/09/sarah-palin-has-yet-to-meet-the-press-013208}} as some of the media alleged that McCain's campaign was restricting press access to Palin by allowing only three one-on-one interviews and no press conferences with her.{{cite news| author = Garofoli, Joe| title = Palin: McCain campaign's end-run around media | date=September 30, 2008 | work = San Francisco Chronicle | access-date = September 30, 2008| url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/30/MNTB1374LU.DTL}} Besides the perceived motive of protecting the Vice Presidential nominee from media questions, the McCain campaign sought to have her constantly at McCain's side because she drew crowds. Palin's first major interview, with Charles Gibson of ABC News, met with mixed reviews.{{cite news|author=Swaine, Jon|title=Sarah Palin interview: pundits give mixed reviews|newspaper=Telegraph (UK)|date=September 12, 2008|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/2823573/Sarah-Palin-interview-pundits-give-mixed-reviews.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/2823573/Sarah-Palin-interview-pundits-give-mixed-reviews.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=September 30, 2008|location=London, UK}}{{cbignore}} Her interview five days later with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity went more smoothly and focused on many of the same questions from Gibson's interview.{{cite news|last=Stanley|first=Alessandra|author-link=Alessandra Stanley|title=A Question Reprised, but the Words Come None Too Easily for Palin|work=The New York Times|date=September 26, 2008|page=A20|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/us/politics/26watch.html|access-date=September 6, 2009}} Palin's performance in her third interview with Katie Couric, of CBS News, was widely criticized; her poll numbers declined, Republicans expressed concern that she was becoming a political liability, and some conservative commentators called for Palin to resign from the Presidential ticket.{{cite news|last=Nagourney|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Nagourney|title=Concerns About Palin's Readiness as Big Test Nears|work=The New York Times|date=September 30, 2008|page=A16|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/us/politics/30palin.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507152017/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/us/politics/30palin.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 7, 2011|access-date=September 6, 2009}}{{cite news|author=Alberts, Sheldon|title=Palin raising fears among Republican conservatives|agency=Canwest News Service|date=September 29, 2008|publisher=Canada.com|access-date=September 30, 2008|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=3d17bbf2-556a-480a-9dce-21b958a89663|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002022809/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=3d17bbf2-556a-480a-9dce-21b958a89663|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2008}} Other conservatives remained ardent in their support for Palin, accusing the columnists of elitism.{{cite news|last=Bumiller|first=Elizabeth |author2=Julie Bosman |author3=Michael Cooper|title=Internal Battles Divided McCain and Palin Camps|work=The New York Times|date=November 6, 2008|page=9|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06mccain.html|access-date =May 30, 2010}} Following this interview, some Republicans, including Mitt Romney and Bill Kristol, questioned the McCain campaign's strategy of sheltering Palin from unscripted encounters with the press.{{cite news|first=Carol|last=Costello |author2=Dana Bash |author3=Scott J. Anderson|title=Conservatives to McCain camp: Let Palin be Palin|date=September 29, 2008|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 30, 2010|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/29/conservatives.palin/?iref=hpmostpop}}

Palin reportedly prepared intensively for the October 2 vice-presidential debate with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden at Washington University in St. Louis. Some Republicans suggested that Palin's performance in the interviews would improve public perceptions of her debate performance by lowering expectations.{{cite news|title = Palin prepping for debate in seclusion | author=UPI staff | date = September 30, 2008| work = United Press International |location=Sedona, AZ| access-date =May 30, 2010 | url =http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/30/Palin_prepping_for_debate_in_seclusion/UPI-67411222783104/}}{{cite news| author = Daniel K., Douglass| url =http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5921063.html| access-date =May 30, 2010| title = Obama backs away from McCain's debate challenge | work = Houston Chronicle | date = August 2, 2008| agency = Associated Press}} Polling from CNN, Fox and CBS found that while Palin exceeded most voters' expectations, they felt that Biden had won the debate.{{cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/03/debate.poll/?iref=hpmostpop | title = Debate poll says Biden won, Palin beat expectations | date = October 3, 2008 |work=ElectionCenter2008|publisher=CNN | access-date =May 30, 2010}}{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct03/0,4670,VicePresidentialDebate,00.html | title=Palin says debate went well as polls favor Biden | last=Fouhy | first=Beth | date = October 3, 2008| agency= Associated Press | publisher=Fox News Channel|access-date=May 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511034034/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Oct03/0,4670,VicePresidentialDebate,00.html|archive-date=May 11, 2011}}

File:Palin In Carson City On 13 September 2008.jpg, Nevada, September 13, 2008]]

Upon returning to the campaign trail after her debate preparation, Palin stepped up her attacks on the Democratic candidate for president, Illinois Senator Barack Obama. At a fundraising event, Palin explained her new aggressiveness, saying, "There does come a time when you have to take the gloves off and that time is right now."{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJ7Yeq09eR4Q&refer=home|title=Palin Takes 'Gloves Off,' Filling Attack-Dog Role (Update 2)|last=Johnston|first=Nicholas|date=October 6, 2008|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=May 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613163056/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087|archive-date=June 13, 2010}} Palin said that her first amendment right to "call Obama out on his associations" was threatened by "attacks by the mainstream media."ABC News, October 31, 2008, [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/palin-fears-med.html Palin Fears Media Threaten Her First Amendment Rights]

Palin appeared on Saturday Night Live{{'}}s "Weekend Update" segment on October 18. Prior to her appearance, she had been memorably parodied several times by SNL cast member Tina Fey, who was noted for her physical resemblance to the candidate.{{cite news|title=Palin drops in on 'Saturday Night Live'|date=October 19, 2008|work=Reuters|author=Michaud, Chris|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUSTRE49G6ZE20081019?sp=true|access-date=May 30, 2010}} In the weeks leading up to the election, Palin was also the subject of amateur parodies posted on YouTube.{{cite news|last=Chapman|first=Glenn|title=Palin parodies flood the Web|agency=Agence France-Presse|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=September 18, 2008|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/18/palin-parodies-flood-the-web|access-date=May 30, 2010}}

Controversy arose after it was reported that the Republican National Committee (RNC) spent $150,000 of campaign contributions on clothing, hair styling, and makeup for Palin and her family in September 2008. Campaign spokespersons stated the clothing would be going to charity after the election.{{cite news|url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/10/22/20081022palinclothes22-on.html|title=GOP spent $150,000 in donations on Palin's look|author=AP staff|agency=Associated Press|work=The Arizona Republic|date=October 22, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2010}} Palin and some media outlets blamed gender bias for the controversy.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/523869|title=Palin blames gender bias for clothing controversy|author=AP staff|agency=Associated Press|date=October 23, 2008|work=Toronto Star|access-date=May 30, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/23/campbell-brown-calls-out_n_137106.html|title=Campbell Brown Calls Out Double Standard On Palin Clothes Controversy|author=Huffington Post staff|work=Huffington Post|date=October 23, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2010}} At the end of the campaign, Palin returned the clothes to the RNC.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/10/palin-sorts-clothes-to-se_n_142766.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113132900/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/10/palin-sorts-clothes-to-se_n_142766.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2008|title=Palin Sorts Clothes To See What Belongs To The RNC|last=Johnson|first=Gene|date=November 10, 2008|work=Huffington Post|access-date=May 30, 2010}}

The election took place on November 4, and Obama was projected as the winner at 11:00 PM EST.{{cite news| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/mccain.transcript/| title = Transcript: McCain concedes presidency |location=Phoenix, Arizona| work=ElectionCenter2008 | publisher = CNN| date = November 4, 2008|access-date=May 30, 2010}} In his concession speech McCain thanked Palin, calling her "one of the best campaigners I've ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength." While aides were preparing the teleprompter for McCain's speech, they found a concession speech written for Palin by George W. Bush speechwriter Matthew Scully. Two members of McCain's staff, Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, told Palin that there was no tradition of Election Night speeches by running mates, and that she would not be speaking. Palin appealed to McCain, who agreed with his staff.{{cite magazine | last = Purdum | first = Todd S. | author-link = Todd Purdum | title = It Came from Wasilla | magazine = Vanity Fair | issue = 588 | date = August 2009 | pages = 60–65, 107–112 | url = http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/08/sarah-palin200908?printable=true¤tPage=all | access-date =May 30, 2010}}

Political scientists have debated the impact that Palin had on the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.{{Cite journal|date=December 1, 2010|title=The dynamics of candidate evaluations and vote choice in 2008: looking to the past or future?|journal=Electoral Studies|language=en|volume=29|issue=4|pages=582–593|doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2010.04.005|issn=0261-3794|last1=Elis|first1=Roy|last2=Hillygus|first2=D. Sunshine|last3=Nie|first3=Norman}}{{Cite journal|last1=Burmila|first1=Edward M.|last2=Ryan|first2=Josh M.|date=2013|title=Reconsidering the "Palin Effect" in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election|jstor=23612070|journal=Political Research Quarterly|volume=66|issue=4|pages=952–959|doi=10.1177/1065912913508011|s2cid=143578249|issn=1065-9129}} A 2010 study in the journal Electoral Studies found that "her campaign performance cost McCain just under 2% of the final vote share." However, a 2013 study in the journal Political Research Quarterly failed to find an adverse impact.

File:Sarah Palin at Chambliss rally.jpg in Savannah, Georgia, December 2008]]

Palin was the first guest on commentator Glenn Beck's Fox News television show on January 19, 2009, commenting on Barack Obama that he would be her president and that she would assist in any way to bring progress to the nation without abandoning her conservative views.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/01/palin_hopeful_a.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123023742/http://boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/01/palin_hopeful_a.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2009|title=Palin hopeful about Obama presidency|last=Rhee|first=Foon|work=Political Intelligence|date=January 19, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}}

In August 2009, she coined the phrase "death panel", to describe rationing of care as part of the proposed health care reform. She stated that it would require Americans such as her parents or her child with Down syndrome, "to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care."{{cite web|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/palin-vs-obama-death-panels/|title=Palin vs. Obama: Death Panels|website=www.factcheck.org|access-date=June 28, 2016|date=August 14, 2009}} The phrase was criticized by many Democrats and Politifact named it the "Lie of the Year of 2009."{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/dec/18/politifact-lie-year-death-panels/ |title=PolitiFact's Lie of the Year: 'Death panels'|publisher=PolitiFact|access-date=October 5, 2011}} However, conservatives disputed this and defended her use of the term.{{cite web|url=http://www.cato.org/blog/death-panels-sarah-palin-was-right|title=Death Panels? Sarah Palin Was Right|publisher=Cato Institute|access-date=September 13, 2015|date=December 22, 2009}}

In March 2010, Palin started a show to be aired on TLC called Sarah Palin's Alaska.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/04/wildlife-group-urges-discovery-to-drop-sarah-palins-docuseries.html|title=Wildlife Group urges Discovery to Drop Sarah Palin's docu-series|first=Lindsay|last= Barnett|work=L.A. Unleashed |date=April 9, 2010 |access-date=May 30, 2010}} The show was produced by Mark Burnett.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/ct-xpm-2010-03-30-ct-talk-sarah-palin-fox-news-0331-20100330-story.html|title=Palin's new Fox show debuts this week|first=Matea|last=Gold|newspaper= Chicago Tribune|date=March 30, 2010|access-date=January 18, 2022}} Five million viewers tuned in for the premiere episode, a record for TLC. Palin also secured a segment on Fox News. Two guests that she was shown to have interviewed claimed to have never met her. Guests LL Cool J and Toby Keith stated that footage shown on the segment was actually taken from another interview with someone else, but was used in Palin's segment.{{cite news| url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=8407461d-fc15-459f-8cd8-63d85328429f | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514183028/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=8407461d-fc15-459f-8cd8-63d85328429f | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 14, 2014 |title='Guests' say Palin's TV show dishonest|last=Leonard|first=Tom|newspaper=Calgary Herald|date=April 2, 2010|access-date=August 7, 2012}} Fox News and Palin ended this relationship in January 2013.{{cite news|url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/25/palin-and-fox-news-call-it-quits/|title=Palin and Fox News call it quits|first=Peter|last=Hambly|publisher=CNN|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2013|archive-date=January 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127042856/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/25/palin-and-fox-news-call-it-quits/|url-status=dead}} But on June 13, 2013, Palin rejoined Fox News Channel as an analyst.{{cite web |title=Months later, Sarah Palin back as Fox News analyst |url=https://www.thereporteronline.com/2013/06/13/months-later-sarah-palin-back-as-fox-news-analyst/ |website=The Reporter Online |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=June 13, 2013}}

On December 8, 2010, it was reported that SarahPAC and Palin's personal credit card information were compromised through cyber attacks. Palin's team believed the attack was executed by Anonymous during Operation Payback.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/12/exclusive-palin-under-cyber-attack-from-wikileaks-supporters-in-operation-payback.html|title=Exclusive: Sarah Palin Under Cyber-Attack from Wikileaks Supporters in 'Operation Payback' |date=December 8, 2010|access-date=December 9, 2010 |last=Tapper|first=Jake|publisher=ABC News}} The report was met with skepticism in the blogosphere.{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/12/is-palin-just-using-operation-payback-to-get-attention/343088/ |title=Is Palin Just Using 'Operation Payback' to Get Attention? |first=John |last=Hudson |publisher=The Atlantic |date=December 9, 2010 |access-date=January 18, 2022}} Palin's email had been hacked once before in 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/19/hacker-wanted-to-derail-palin/|title=Hacker wanted to 'derail' Palin|work=The Washington Times|date=September 19, 2008| author=Rowland, Kara|access-date=January 18, 2022}}

On January 27, 2009, Palin formed the political action committee, SarahPAC.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarahpac.com/faq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106234835/http://sarahpac.com/faq |archive-date=January 6, 2011 |title=FAQ |publisher=SarahPAC}}{{cite news|title=Sarah Palin Launches Political Action Committee|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/27/sarah-palin-launches-political-action-committee|first=Mary Lu|last=Carnevale|author2=Davis, Susan|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 27, 2009| access-date =May 30, 2010}} Michael Glassner, a former aide to Palin, was appointed as the chief of staff of SarahPAC.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/20/politics/donald-trump-sarah-palin-michael-glassner/index.html|title=Key aide may have cemented Donald Trump-Sarah Palin union|author=Jeremy Diamond|website=CNN|access-date=May 3, 2017}} The organization, which describes itself as an advocate of energy independence,{{cite news|title=Palin Forms Political Committee That Could Help a 2012 Campaign|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=azCCxotgdG1E&refer=home|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131095851/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=azCCxotgdG1E&refer=home|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2010|first=Jonathan D.|last=Salant|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=January 27, 2009| access-date=May 30, 2010}} supports candidates for federal and state office.{{cite news|title=Sarah Palin Launches Political Action Committee|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/01/27/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4758742.shtml|first=Ken|last=Millstone|work=Political Hotsheet|date=January 27, 2009|publisher=CBS News|access-date=May 30, 2010}} Following her resignation as governor, Palin stated her intention to campaign "on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation."{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/12/palin-stump-conservative-democrats|title=Exclusive: Palin to stump for conservative Democrats, Vows to shun 'partisan stuff'|last=Hallow|first=Ralph|work=The Washington Times|date=July 12, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}} It was reported that SarahPAC had raised nearly $1,000,000.{{cite news|last=Bolstad|first=Erika|author2=Cockerham, Sean|url=http://www.adn.com/front/story/863368.html|title=SarahPAC collections reach nearly a million: Nearly 11,000 Contributors|newspaper= Anchorage Daily News|date=July 14, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}} A legal defense fund was set up to help Palin challenge ethics complaints, and it had collected approximately $250,000 by mid July 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/palins-legal-fund-faces-ethics-challenge/|author=|agency=Associated Press|title=Palin's Legal Fund Faces Ethics Challenge|date=August 28, 2009|work=CBS News|access-date=May 30, 2010}} In June 2010, Palin's defense fund was ruled illegal and was required to pay back $386,856 it collected in donations because it used Palin's position as governor to raise money for her personal gain. Palin subsequently set up a new defense fund.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65O0AG20100625 |author= | title=Illegal Sarah Palin defense fund must give back donations | date=June 25, 2010|work=Reuters|access-date=June 25, 2010}} Sarah PAC was terminated as of December 31, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00458588/1141550/|title=FEC Disclosure Form 3X for Sarah PAC|website=docquery.fec.gov|access-date=February 10, 2017}}

In the wake of the January 8, 2011, shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Palin faced criticism for her SarahPAC website's inclusion of a political graphic that included a crosshair{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/political-insiders-split-over-palins-crosshairs/69461/|title=Political Insiders Split Over Palin's 'Crosshairs'|date=January 12, 2011|newspaper=The Atlantic|access-date=July 16, 2012}} over Giffords's district. Palin responded on her Facebook page to the criticism, saying, "Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them", equating the accusations of her role in the shooting to a "blood libel".{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703667904576071913818696964?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop|title=The Arizona Tragedy and the Politics of Blood Libel|last=Reynolds|first=Glenn|date=January 10, 2011|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=July 16, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-palin-rhetoric-20110113,0,2106478.story|title=Sarah Palin video on Giffords aftermath stays true to who Palin is|last=Oliphant|first=James|date=January 13, 2011|work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703583404576079823067585318|title=Sarah Palin Is Right About 'Blood Libel'|last=Boteach|first=Shmuley|date=January 14, 2011|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=July 16, 2012}}

{{Main|Going Rogue: An American Life}}

File:SarahPalinElon.jpg

In November 2009, Palin released her memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life, in which she details her private and political career, including her resignation as Governor of Alaska. Palin said she took the title from the phrase 'gone rogue' used by McCain staffers to describe her behavior when she spoke her mind on the issues during the campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2202658|title=Palin's Campaign vs. McCain's: When Sarah Palin disagrees with John McCain, it means something. Or does it? |last=Dickerson|first=John|date=October 20, 2008|work=Slate|access-date=May 30, 2010}} The subtitle, "An American Life," mirrors the title of President Ronald Reagan's 1990 autobiography.{{cite web |url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2009/10/06/sarah-palin-memoir-going-rogue-american-life |title=Sarah Palin's new memoir: Gosh that subtitle sounds familiar |last=Geier |first=Thom |date=October 6, 2009 |access-date=May 30, 2010 |work=Shelf Life |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224003444/http://shelf-life.ew.com/2009/10/06/sarah-palin-memoir-going-rogue-american-life/ |archive-date=December 24, 2009}} Less than two weeks after its release, sales of the book exceeded the one million mark, with 300,000 copies sold the first day. Its bestseller rankings were comparable to memoirs by Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.{{cite news|last1=AP staff|title=Sarah Palin Book Goes Platinum|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-palin-book-goes-platinum/|access-date=January 23, 2016|publisher=CBS, AP|date=December 1, 2009}}{{cite web|title=Sarah Palin Tops New York Times Best Seller List with 'Going Rogue'|url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/media/2009/12/9/sarah_palin_tops_new_york_times.htm|publisher=HispanicBusiness.com| first=Rob | last=Kuznia |date=December 9, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}}{{cite web|title=Sarah Palin's 'Going Rogue' sells 1 million. How does it stack up to Barack and Hillary's books?|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/2009/12/sarah-palins-going-rogue-sells-1-million-how-does-it-stack-up-to-barack-and-billarys-books.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215043158/http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/2009/12/sarah-palins-going-rogue-sells-1-million-how-does-it-stack-up-to-barack-and-billarys-books.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2009|last=Reither|first=Andrea|work=The Dishrag|publisher=Zap2It Blog|date=December 1, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}}

Palin traveled to 11 states in a bus, with her family accompanying her, to promote the book. She made a number of media appearances as well, including a widely publicized interview on November 16, 2009, with Oprah Winfrey.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/arts/television/19arts-SARAHPALINGE_BRF.html|title=Sarah Palin Generates High Ratings for 'Oprah'|last=Stelter|first=Brian|author2=Dave Itzkoff|work=The New York Times|date=November 18, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}} In November 2010 HarperCollins released Palin's second book, titled America by Heart.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-palins-new-book-america-by-heart/|title=Sarah Palin's New Book: 'America by Heart'|last=Montopoli|first=Brian|work=Political Hotsheet|date=May 11, 2010|access-date=May 20, 2010}}{{cite news|last=Italie|first=Hillel |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2010-05-11-sarah-palin_N.htm|title=Sarah Palin's book, 'America by Heart,' out Nov. 23|work=USA Today|date=May 12, 2010|access-date=May 30, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2010/1121/Sarah-Palin-s-America-by-Heart-sure-to-stir-friends-and-enemies|title=Sarah Palin's 'America by Heart' sure to stir friends – and enemies|last=Knickerbocker|first=Brad|date=November 21, 2010|work=The Christian Science Monitor|access-date=November 26, 2010}} The book contains excerpts from Palin's favorite speeches, sermons and literature as well as portraits of people Palin admires, including some she met in rural America on her first book tour.

{{Main|Tea Party movement}}

On February 6, 2010, Palin was the keynote speaker at the first Tea Party convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Palin said the Tea Party movement is "the future of politics in America."{{cite news |last=Zernike |first=Kate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/politics/08palin.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209220722/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/politics/08palin.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |title=Palin Assails Obama at Tea Party Meeting |location=Nashville, TN |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 6, 2010 |access-date=May 30, 2010}} She criticized Obama for rising deficits, and for "apologizing for America" in speeches in other countries. Palin said Obama was weak on the War on Terror for allowing the so-called Christmas bomber to board a plane headed for the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/08/AR2010010801057.html |first=Howard|last= Kurtz|title= Obama Takes the Blame|work=Media Notes |date=January 8, 2010|access-date=May 27, 2010}}

File:Sarah Palin Manchester NH 9-6-2011.jpg (Manchester, NH), 2011]]

In 2011, Palin was the keynote speaker at an annual tax day tea party rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political advocacy group headquartered in Arlington, Virginia,{{cite news |last=Schultz |first=Zac |title=Sarah Palin Travels To Madison |url=http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Sarah_Palin_to_Visit_Madison_119856054.html |access-date=May 8, 2012 |publisher=WMTV |date=April 16, 2011 |location=Madison, Wisconsin}} and a featured speaker at a Tea Party Express rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, at which Palin urged members of the Tea Party movement to avoid internal bickering with establishment Republicans.{{cite news|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|title=N.H. Republican says Sarah Palin's window is closed|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-palin-new-hampshire-20110905,0,5877638.story|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 6, 2011|date=September 5, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Cousineau|first=Michael|title=Sarah Palin: 'We're not going to just sit back'|url=http://unionleader.com/article/20110906/NEWS0605/110909950|publisher=New Hampshire Union-Leader|access-date=September 6, 2011}}

In mid-2010, Palin positioned herself as a champion of conservative Republican women, calling for a "whole stampede of pink elephants" in the 2010 midterm elections.{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Kathleen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071304635.html|title=Sarah Palin, from pit bull to mama grizzly|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 14, 2010|access-date=November 30, 2010}} She endorsed a number of female Republican candidates in primary elections,{{cite news|last=Hennessy|first=Kathleen|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-24-la-na-gop-women-20100725-story.html|title=For GOP Women 2010 May Not Be Their Year|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 24, 2010|access-date=January 18, 2022}} including Karen Handel, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election.{{cite news|last=Vejnoska|first=Jill|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/palin-nods-and-suddenly-georgia-race-wakes/dSOiYW9Pqri0g8JuduUApJ/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727070030/http://www.ajc.com/news/palin-nods-and-suddenly-577969.html|archive-date=July 27, 2010|title=For GOP Women 2010 May Not Be Their Year|newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 25, 2010|access-date=January 18, 2022}} Ryan Rudominer, a spokesman for the House Democratic campaign operation, called her involvement in various U.S. House campaigns a "great thing across the board".{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Susan|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704575304575296822527981224.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731044945/http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB%3ASB10001424052748704575304575296822527981224.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2010|title=Measuring the Impact of a Nod From Palin|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=June 10, 2010|access-date=August 15, 2010}} She spoke at a May 2010 fundraiser for the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion political advocacy group and political action committee that supports pro-life women in politics, in which she coined the term "mama grizzly".[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010051402271.html?hpid=moreheadlines "Sarah Palin Issues a Call to Action to 'Mama Grizzlies'"], The Washington Post, May 14, 2010.[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/palin-warns-nra-obama-wants-to-ban-guns "Palin Tells Women's Group Washington Should Beware of 'Mama Grizzlies'"], Associated Press, May 14, 2010.

Palin endorsed Nikki Haley for the Republican nomination for Governor of South Carolina three weeks before the election. At the time of the endorsement, Haley was polling behind three other Republicans;{{cite web |last1=Barr |first1=Andy |title=Palin endorses Haley for S.C. governor |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/palin-endorses-haley-for-sc-governor-037225 |website=POLITICO |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=May 13, 2010}} she ended up winning the nomination{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/nikki-haley-makes-history-038893|title=Nikki Haley makes history |website=Politico |last=Hunt |first=Kasie|date=June 22, 2010}} and the general election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-02-la-pn-haley-sheheen-final-story.html|title=Nikki Haley bests Vincent Sheheen for South Carolina governor|date=November 2, 2010|website=Los Angeles Times}} According to ABC News, "pundits credited the notable endorsements of tea party groups, former state first lady Jenny Sanford, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with legitimizing" Haley's candidacy "in the face of the state's male-dominated political establishment".{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/nikki-haley-wins-south-carolina-gop-primary-runoff/story?id=10988607|title=Nikki Haley Clinches South Carolina GOP Gubernatorial Nomination|website=ABC News|date=June 21, 2010}}

In the months ahead of the November 2010 elections, Palin endorsed 64 Republican candidates,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/palin_tracker/|title=Palin Endorsements Tracker – The Washington Post|newspaper=Washington Post}} and was a significant fundraising asset to those she campaigned for during the primary season.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/12/chambliss-palin-allowed-us-to-peak-016162|title=Chambliss: Palin 'allowed us to peak'|first=Andy|last=Barr|publisher=Politico|date=December 3, 2008|access-date=January 18, 2022}} According to Politico, Palin's criteria for endorsing candidates was whether they had the support of the Tea Party movement and the support of the Susan B. Anthony List.{{cite web|author=Maggie Haberman |date=September 21, 2010|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42371_Page2.html|title=Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee bid for conservative base|publisher=Politico|access-date=January 18, 2022}} In terms of success, Palin was 7–2 for Senate endorsements; 7–6 for House endorsements; and 6–3 in endorsements of gubernatorial candidates in races that were considered 'competitive'.Sandra Fish, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100916175657/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/15/sarah-palins-tuesday-picks-come-out-on-top-mostly/ Sarah Palin's Tuesday Picks Come Out on Top, Mostly] Politics Daily, September 15, 2010. Palin's endorsement of Joe Miller in the August 24 Alaska primary election for U.S. Senator was identified as a pivotal moment in Miller's upset of the incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski.{{cite news|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|title=Joe Miller|date=August 25, 2010|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/25/AR2010082503606.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 1, 2010|quote=Whether he ultimately prevailed or not was beside the point. Palin, whose presidential and political aspirations are still undetermined, had demonstrated that the strength of her base is not.}}{{cite news|first=Alexandra|last=Gutierrez|title=Sarah Palin's Tea Party How Joe Miller—the Palin-endorsed, Tea Party-supported candidate—surprised everyone in Alaska.|date=August 25, 2010|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2265056|work=Slate|access-date=September 1, 2010|quote=And while Palin did not campaign for Miller, she and former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman recorded effective 11th-hour robocalls for him.}} After losing the Republican Party primary to Miller, Murkowski ran as a write-in candidate, defeating both Miller and Democrat Scott McAdams in the general election, winning with a plurality.Yardley, William. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/us/politics/18alaska.html Murkowski Wins Alaska Senate Race]." The New York Times. November 17, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

According to The Daily Beast reporter Shushannah Walshe, Christine O'Donnell's unlikely prospects of upsetting establishment Republican candidate Mike Castle "changed overnight" due to Palin's endorsement. O'Donnell defeated Castle in the September 14 primary for Joe Biden's former Senate seat in Delaware.Shushannah Walshe, [http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-16/sarah-palins-team-prepares-for-2012/ Palin's Wins Stoke White House Run], The Daily Beast September 16, 2010 Her O'Donnell endorsement further increased tensions between Palin and the Republican establishment: leading conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer described the endorsement as "reckless and irresponsible".{{cite news |last1=Krauthammer |first1=Charles |title=The Buckley rule |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/16/AR2010091604899.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=September 17, 2010}} In 2010, former congressman and influential TV host Joe Scarborough urged his party to dissociate itself from her.{{Cite web |last=Scarborough |first=Joe |title=GOP should take on Palin |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/11/gop-should-take-on-palin-045687 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |website=POLITICO |date=November 30, 2010 |language=en}} Party strategist Karl Rove argued that Palin's endorsement of O'Donnell may have cost the GOP the Delaware Senate seat,{{cite web |last=James |first=Frank |title=Sarah Palin Tells Karl Rove Where To Go... |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2010/09/18/129953754/sarah-palin-tells-karl-rove-where-to-go |website=NPR |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=September 18, 2010}} and Politico's Ben Smith posited that Palin's support of O'Donnell helped dash Republican hopes of regaining control of the U.S. Senate.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Ben |title=Palin blog: Coons would have beaten Castle |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2010/11/palin-blog-coons-would-have-beaten-castle-030496 |website=POLITICO |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=November 2, 2010}}

Another Palin endorsement carried Nevada's Sharron Angle to a 40.1% primary win,[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/18/palin-angle-planning-campaign-event/ Palin, Angle, planning campaign event] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811135836/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/18/palin-angle-planning-campaign-event/ |date=August 11, 2022 }}, CNN Political Ticker, Mark Preston, August 18, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2018. in the race to beat highly endangered incumbent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reid prevailed 50.3% to 44.6% in the 2010 election despite losing 14 of Nevada's 17 counties.[https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/the-nevada-plan-reintroduce-reid-026898 The Nevada plan: Reintroduce Reid]. Manu Raju, Politico. Retrieved January 18, 2022.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071544/http://www.silverstate2010.com/USSenateStateWide.aspx#AllRace1080 2010 Election Nevada], Nevada Secretary of State, November 23, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2018. Angle had led by as much as 11% in March and June Rasmussen polling.[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/nevada/election_2010_nevada_senate_march_31_2010 Rasmussen Reports]{{dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}, Rasmussen Reports, March 31, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2018.[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/nevada/toplines/toplines_2010_nevada_senate_june_9_2010 Rasmussen Reports],Rasmussen Reports, June 9, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

Palin's influence over the primaries increased speculation that she would seek to be the party's nominee for president in 2012,{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/10/sarah_palin_st_louis_and_2012.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708232943/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/10/sarah_palin_st_louis_and_2012.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2009|title=Sarah Palin, St. Louis and 2012|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=October 3, 2008|work=The Fix|access-date=May 30, 2010}} with political pundits such as David Frum and Jonathan Chait identifying Palin as the front-runner.David Frum, [http://www.frumforum.com/is-palin-now-the-2012-front-runner Is Palin Now the 2012 Front-Runner?] frumforum.com September 16, 2010Jonathan Chait [http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/77734/lord-help-us-palin-running-president "Lord Help Us, Palin Is Running For President"], The New Republic, September 16, 2010.

File:Sarah Palin by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland]]

Beginning in November 2008, following Palin's high profile in the presidential campaign, an active "Draft Palin" movement started.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7713358.stm|title= What next for Sarah Palin?|first= Ali|last= Reed|work= BBC News|date= November 6, 2008|access-date= May 30, 2010}} On February 6, 2010, when asked on Fox News whether she would run for president in 2012, she replied, "I would be willing to if I believe that it's right for the country."{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/07/sarah-palin-tea-party-speech1|title= Sarah Palin fires up Tea Party faithful and hints at 2012 run|first= Ed|last= Pilkington|date= February 7, 2010|work= The Guardian|access-date= February 7, 2010|location= London, UK}} In November 2010, Palin confirmed that she was considering running for the White House, but realized that her level of experience could make it difficult to win the nomination and criticized the "lamestream media" for focusing attention on her personal life.{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/us-politics/8141322/Sarah-Palin-finally-says-she-is-considering-White-House-bid.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101119062742/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/us-politics/8141322/Sarah-Palin-finally-says-she-is-considering-White-House-bid.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= November 19, 2010|title= Sarah Palin finally says she is considering White House bid|work= The Daily Telegraph|date= November 17, 2010|access-date= November 21, 2010|location= London, UK|first= Alex|last= Spillius}} In March 2011, Palin said, "It's time that a woman is president of the United States of America."{{cite news|last= Lahiri|first= Tripti|url= https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/03/19/indias-sarah-palin-hour|title= India's Sarah Palin Hour – India Real Time|work= The Wall Street Journal|date= March 19, 2011|access-date= April 25, 2011}} On October 5, 2011, Palin said she had decided not to seek the Republican nomination for president.{{cite news|url= http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/05/sarah-palin-announces-will-not-seek-gop-2012-nomination|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111006102904/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/05/sarah-palin-announces-will-not-seek-gop-2012-nomination/|url-status= dead|archive-date= October 6, 2011|title= Raw Data: Sarah Palin Announces She Will Not Seek GOP 2012 Nomination|publisher= Fox News Channel|date= April 7, 2010|access-date= October 5, 2011}}

File:Sarah Palin by Gage Skidmore 4.jpgIn October 2014, Palin endorsed the "unity ticket" of Independent Bill Walker and Democrat Byron Mallott in the 2014 Alaska gubernatorial election, which ran against her successor and former lieutenant governor, Sean Parnell.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/palin-endorses-independent-democratic-ticket-for-alaska-governor-against-gop-successor-20141023 |title=Palin Endorses Independent-Democratic Ticket for Alaska Governor Against GOP Successor |magazine=National Journal |date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024003923/http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/palin-endorses-independent-democratic-ticket-for-alaska-governor-against-gop-successor-20141023 |archive-date=October 24, 2014}} The endorsement was prompted by Parnell's oil-and-gas industry tax-cuts, which dismantled her administration's "Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share" (ACES) plan. She had previously supported a referendum to repeal the tax cuts, which was narrowly defeated in August 2014.{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Alaska_Oil_Tax_Cuts_Veto_Referendum,_Ballot_Measure_1_(August_2014) |website=Ballotpedia.org|title=Alaska Oil and Tax Cuts Veto Referendum}} Walker and Mallott made the repeal of the tax cuts a centerpiece of their campaign.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/palin-endorses-independent-democratic-ticket-for-alaska-governor-against-gop-successor-20141023 |title=Palin Endorses Independent-Democratic Ticket for Alaska Governor Against GOP Successor |magazine=National Journal |date=October 23, 2014 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024003923/http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/palin-endorses-independent-democratic-ticket-for-alaska-governor-against-gop-successor-20141023 |archive-date=October 24, 2014}} Walker and Mallott won the governorship in the November 2014 election with 48.1 percent of the vote, versus 45.9 percent for the Republican ticket.{{cite news|url= http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/14GENR/data/results.htm |title= 2014 General Election November 4, 2014 Official Results |date= November 11, 2014 |access-date= June 13, 2015 |publisher= elections.alaska.gov}}

In January 2016, Palin endorsed Donald Trump for president of the United States.{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Ben|title='Make America great again': Sarah Palin endorses Donald Trump|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/19/sarah-palin-endorses-donald-trump-for-president|website=The Guardian|access-date=August 25, 2017|date=January 20, 2016}}

In a May 2016 interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Palin said she would work to defeat Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Palin cited Ryan's reluctance to support Trump for president.Karl de Vries, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/08/politics/sarah-palin-paul-ryan-paul-nehlen-endorsement/index.html Sarah Palin will work to defeat Ryan in primary for Trump stance], CNN (May 9, 2016). In early August, Palin said again that she supported Paul Nehlen, a little-known Republican challenger to Ryan, despite Trump's support of Ryan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/05/politics/sarah-palin-endorsement-paul-nehlen/index.html|title=Palin doubles down on Ryan snub|last=Schleifer|first=Theodore|date=August 6, 2016|work=CNN|access-date=August 26, 2018}} A few days later, Ryan overwhelmingly defeated Nehlen in the Republican primary, taking over 84 percent of the vote.{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/08/09/ryan-nehlen-primary/88476374|title=Despite late drama, Ryan easily beats Nehlen|last=Gilbert|first=Craig|date=August 10, 2016|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=August 10, 2016}}

In June 2017, Palin filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times for an editorial accusing Palin of "political incitement" in the run-up to the 2011 shooting of Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The Times pointed out that a link to an advertisement from Palin's political action committee showed stylized crosshairs over the congressional districts held by 20 Democrats, including Giffords.{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/06/27/media/sarah-palin-nyt/index.html|title=Sarah Palin sues New York Times|last=Byers|first=Dylan|date=June 27, 2017|website=CNNMoney|access-date=June 28, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sarah-palin-sues-ny-times-over-editorial-tying-her-to-giffords-shooting|title=Sarah Palin sues NY Times over editorial tying her to Giffords shooting|last=Chamberlain|first=Samuel|date=June 27, 2017|work=Fox News|access-date=June 28, 2017|language=en-US}} The Times later issued a correction, stating that no connection between the Palin advertisement and the Giffords shooting had been established and clarifying that what was depicted in the crosshairs in the ad were "electoral districts, not individual Democratic lawmakers." The Times wrote that the error did not "undercut or weaken the argument of the piece". In subsequent testimony at an evidentiary hearing, Times editorial page editor James Bennet stated that the editorial sought to make a point about heated political rhetoric and was not intended to blame Palin for the attack on Giffords.Sydney Emberg, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/business/media/sarah-palin-lawsuit-new-york-times.html?mcubz=0 Sarah Palin's Defamation Suit Against The New York Times Is Dismissed], New York Times (August 29, 2017).

Palin's lawsuit was dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in August 2017. Judge Jed S. Rakoff ruled that Palin had failed to show actual malice on the part of the Times. In August 2019, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated Palin's suit, ruling that the district court erred when it held an evidentiary hearing on the newspaper's motion to dismiss rather than deciding the newspaper's motion to dismiss on the pleadings.{{cite web|url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/2nd-circuit-reinstates-sarah-palins-defamation-suit-against-the-new-york-times|title=2nd Circuit reinstates Sarah Palin's defamation suit against the New York Times|website=ABA Journal |last1=Weiss |first1=Debra Cassens }} In August 2020, Rakoff denied both sides' motions for summary judgment and ordered a jury trial.{{cite web|author=Josh Gerstein|date=August 29, 2020|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/29/sarah-palin-libel-new-york-times-404810|title=Judge orders jury trial in Palin libel suit against The New York Times|website=POLITICO}}[https://casetext.com/case/palin-v-ny-times-co-4 Palin v. N.Y. Times Co.], 482 F. Supp. 3d 208 (S.D.N.Y. 2020). As the first libel case against the Times to go to trial in the U.S. in 18 years,Sarah Ellison, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/01/24/sarah-palin-covid-trial-libel-new-york-times/ Sarah Palin's defamation trial against New York Times delayed by positive coronavirus test], Washington Post (January 24, 2022). the suit was closely watched among First Amendment scholars.Jeremy W. Peters, [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/24/business/sarah-palin-covid.html Sarah Palin Tests Positive, Delaying Libel Case Against The Times], New York Times (January 24, 2022) On February 15, 2022, the jury reached a unanimous verdict in favor of The New York Times, finding that Palin had not proven actual malice.{{Cite web|date=February 15, 2022|title=Jury Rejects Sarah Palin's Defamation Case Against The New York Times - February 15, 2022|url=https://dailynewsbrief.com/2022/02/15/jury-rejects-sarah-palins-defamation-case-against-the-new-york-times-2/|access-date=February 16, 2022|website=The Daily NewsBrief|language=en-US}} Jurors were aware that the previous day Rakoff said he would dismiss the case regardless of their verdict after some jurors had received push notifications on their smart phones, though jurors said it did not affect their deliberations.{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Deanna |title=Jurors in Sarah Palin's Defamation Suit Against New York Times Knew Judge Planned to Dismiss Her Claims |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jurors-in-sarah-palins-defamation-suit-against-new-york-times-knew-judge-planned-to-dismiss-her-claims-11645051450 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 16, 2022}} The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan revived the case in August 2024 citing mistakes by the judge, particularly his announcement during jury deliberations that he would dismiss the case.{{cite news |title=Court revives Sarah Palin's libel lawsuit against The New York Times |url=https://apnews.com/article/sarah-palin-times-libel-b1e9e9ae91b1a52f28f03cab38ac3e7e |work=AP News |date=28 August 2024 |language=en}} On April 22, 2025, a federal jury found the Times was not liable for defamation against Palin.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Luc |date=April 22, 2025 |title=Jury finds NY Times not liable in Sarah Palin defamation case |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/jury-finds-ny-times-not-liable-sarah-palin-defamation-case-2025-04-22/ |website=Reuters}}

In August 2021, Palin had hinted at a possible Senate bid, challenging incumbent centrist Republican Lisa Murkowski.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/01/sarah-palin-senate-run-republican-lisa-murkowski-trump |title=Sarah Palin hints at Alaska Senate run against Republican Lisa Murkowski | Alaska |date=August 1, 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=January 2, 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.kabc.com/2021/08/04/sarah-palin-for-senator/ |title=Sarah Palin for Senator? |date=August 4, 2021 |work=KABC}} After the death of Alaska's at-large congressman Don Young, Palin instead ran in the 2022 special election for the vacated congressional seat.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=April 1, 2022 |title=Sarah Palin announces run for Congress in Alaska |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sarah-palin-announces-run-for-congress-in-alaska |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} On April 3, 2022, former president Donald Trump endorsed her run for the House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-backs-sarah-palins-bid-congress-rcna22775 |title=Trump backs Sarah Palin's bid for Congress |last=Romero |first=Dennis |publisher=NBC News |date=April 3, 2022}}

Palin was one of the three remaining of 50 initial candidates in the 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election.{{Cite web |last1=Ruskin |first1=Liz |last2=Media |first2=Alaska Public |date=April 2, 2022 |title=Sarah Palin among 50 candidates running to fill remainder of Don Young's term in US House |url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2022/06/23/sarah-palin-among-50-candidates-running-to-fill-remainder-of-don-youngs-term-in-us-house/ |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=Alaska Public Media |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Al Gross, an independent, had dropped out of the "top four" runoff, leaving two Republicans remaining, Palin and Nick Begich III, along with Democratic ex-state House member, Alaska Native Mary Peltola.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/odd-alaska-house-race-takes-new-twist-as-gross-plans-to-quit/2022/06/21/2d59b858-f19c-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html Gross withdrawal scrambles Alaska US House race], Washington Post, Becky Bohrer (AP), June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.

Palin lost the special ranked choice election to Peltola following counting on August 31. She received 58,328 votes (30.9%) in the first round, and 85,987 votes (48.5%) once Begich's second preferences had been transferred.{{cite news |title=Alaska House District 1 Special Election Results and Maps 2022 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/election/2022/results/alaska/special-election/us-house-district-1-final |access-date=September 1, 2022 |work=CNN |language=en}}

After she lost the race to fill the remainder of Young's term, Palin urged Begich to drop out of the November election for the two-year term, but he refused to do so.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-sarah-palin-presidential-election-2020-general-7226c51195d4c69046f4e8e51905c86d |title=Palin urges Begich to drop House bid. Begich declines |work=Associated Press |first1=Becky |last1=Bohrer |first2=Mark |last2=Thiessen |date=September 5, 2022 |access-date=September 8, 2022}} She later lost the general election in November by an even larger margin, receiving 25.7% of the vote in the first round to Peltola's 48.8%, then 45% in the second round, to Peltola's 55%.

{{Conservatism US|politicians}}

{{Main|Political positions of Sarah Palin}}

Palin has been a registered Republican since 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html |title=Sliming Palin: False Internet claims and rumors fly about McCain's running mate |author=FactCheck.org staff |publisher=FactCheck.org |date=September 8, 2008 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227194045/http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html |archive-date=February 27, 2011}}

Palin opposed the 2010 health care reform package, saying it would lead to rationing of health care by a bureaucracy, which she described using the term "death panels". This legislation is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as modified by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.{{cite news|last=Condon |first=Stephanie |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/palin-health-care-vote-a-clarion-call-to-action/ |title=Palin: Health Care Vote a 'Clarion Call' to Action|work= Political Hotsheet |publisher=CBS News |date=March 22, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2010}} She opposes abortion, including in cases of rape and incest, though she supports it if the mother's life is in jeopardy. She also opposes embryonic stem cell research.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5795641&page=7|title=Full Excerpts: Charlie Gibson Interviews GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin|last=Gibson|first=Charles|author-link=Charles Gibson|date=September 13, 2008|publisher=ABC News|access-date=May 29, 2010}} She supports parental consent as a requirement for female minors seeking an abortion.{{cite news|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/issues/vice-presidents/index.html|title=Running Mates on the Issues|author=New York Times staff|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 29, 2010}}

Palin opposes same-sex marriage{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Sarah_Palin_Civil_Rights.htm|title=Sarah Palin on Civil Rights|publisher=OnTheIssues.org|date=November 25, 2009|access-date=May 29, 2010}} and supports capital punishment.{{cite news|url=http://guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/30/johnmccain.palin2|title=Meet the Barracuda: anti-abortion, pro-death penalty and gun-lover|first=Suzanne|last=Goldenberg|publisher=Guardian (UK)|date=August 30, 2008|location=London|access-date=May 29, 2010}} She has also called marijuana use a "minimal issue" and suggested that arresting cannabis users should be a low priority for local police. Although she opposes full legalization, she admits to smoking marijuana recreationally when it was legal in Alaska.{{cite web |last=Montopoli |first=Brian |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-palin-calls-marijuana-minimal-problem/ |title=Sarah Palin Calls Marijuana "Minimal Problem" |publisher=CBS News |date=June 17, 2010 |access-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-date=November 24, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124020620/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008091-503544.html}}

Palin supports sex education in public schools that encourages sexual abstinence along with teaching about contraception.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-06-na-sexed6-story.html| first=Seema|last=Mehta|title=GOP ticket split over condom use: While running for state office, Palin said their use ought to be discussed in schools. McCain disagrees.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 6, 2008|access-date=July 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006135404/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/sep/06/nation/na-sexed6|archive-date=October 6, 2008|url-status=live}} She also supports discussion of creationism during lessons on evolution in public schools.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/217111.html|author=Kizzia, Tom|date=October 27, 2006|title='Creation science' enters the race: Governor: Palin is only candidate to suggest it should be discussed in schools|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|access-date=May 29, 2010|quote=the discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms: 'I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum. Palin added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126131449/http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/217111.html|archive-date=November 26, 2009}} Palin believes evolution "should be taught as an accepted principle" and said that her belief in God's role in Earth's creation "is not part of the state policy or a local curriculum in a school district. Science should be taught in science class."{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/palin-opens-up-on-controversial-issues/|first=Katie|last=Couric|title=Palin Opens Up On Controversial Issues: VP Candidate Speaks Frankly With Katie Couric About Feminism, Homosexuality, Abortion And The Environment|publisher=CBS News|date=September 30, 2008|access-date=January 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001100522/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/30/eveningnews/main4490618.shtml|archive-date=October 1, 2008|url-status=live}} (See Creation–evolution controversy.)

A Life Member of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA),{{cite web

| date= January 8, 2016

| publisher= BBC

| url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35261394

| title= US gun control: What is the NRA and why is it so powerful? It is one of the most powerful players in one of the most hotly-debated issues in the US – gun control – but what exactly is the NRA? Here's a quick guide.

| access-date= June 14, 2016

| quote=...Current members include former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and actors Tom Selleck and Whoopi Goldberg. ...

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160108235230/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35261394

|archive-date= January 8, 2016

|url-status= usurped}} Palin interprets the Second Amendment as including the right to handgun possession and opposes bans on semi-automatic assault weapons.{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Charles|author-link=Charles Gibson|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5795641|title=Full Excerpts: Charlie Gibson Interviews GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin|publisher=ABC News|date=September 13, 2008|access-date=May 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925040802/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5795641|archive-date=September 25, 2008|url-status=live}} She supports gun safety education for youth.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/156276|title=On the Hunt: Sarah Palin, a moose-hunting, lifetime NRA member guns for D.C.|last=Braiker|first=Brian|date=August 29, 2008|work=Newsweek|access-date=May 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831070522/http://www.newsweek.com/id/156276|archive-date=August 31, 2008|url-status=live}}

Palin supports off-shore drilling, and land-based drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2008/06/26/drill-drill-drill-my-interview-with-alaska-governor-sarah-palin.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103101940/https://www.cnbc.com/id/25394468/Drill_Drill_Drill_My_Interview_with_Alaska_Governor_Sarah_Palin|url-status=live|archive-date=November 3, 2012|title=Drill, Drill, Drill: My Interview with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin|last=Kudlow|first=Larry|work=Money & Politics|date=June 26, 2008|publisher=CNBC|access-date=May 29, 2010}} When commenting on the Gulf Coast oil disaster Palin said, "I repeat the slogan 'drill here, drill now.{{'"}}{{cite news|first=David|last=Weigel|author-link=David Weigel|date=April 30, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/04/palin_on_oil_spill_no_human_en.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128073534/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/04/palin_on_oil_spill_no_human_en.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 28, 2011|title=Palin on oil spill: 'No human endeavor is ever without risk'|department=Right Now|access-date=May 28, 2010}} She said, "I want our country to be able to trust the oil industry."{{cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/01/1916939/key-to-us-prosperity-is-energy.html|title=Key to U.S. prosperity is energy security, Palin says during speech in Independence|last=Kraske|first=Steve|date=May 1, 2010|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|access-date=May 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504144058/http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/01/1916939/key-to-us-prosperity-is-energy.html | archive-date = May 4, 2010}} Palin asked supporters to read an article by Thomas Sowell that criticized Obama for having BP pay to an escrow fund.{{cite web |last=Barr |first=Andy |title=Palin praises column linking Obama, Hitler |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/palin-praises-column-linking-obama-hitler-039030 |website=POLITICO |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=June 25, 2010}}

Palin considers herself a conservationist{{cite news|title=Palin: Global Warming Just "Snake Oil"|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/palin-global-warming-just-snake-oil/|publisher=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|access-date=March 12, 2014|date=February 9, 2010|quote=I named my daughter Willow. Isn't that granola enough for them?}} and during the 2008 campaign said "of global warming, climate change, whether it's entirely, wholly caused by man's activities or is part of the cyclical nature of our planet...John McCain and I agree that we have to make sure that we're doing all we can to cut down on pollution."{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5778018|title=Palin Takes Hard Line on National Security, Softens Stance on Global Warming| publisher=ABC News|author=Goldman, Russell|date= September 11, 2008|access-date=January 18, 2022}} She opposed cap-and-trade proposals contained in the yet to be defeated ACES energy bill.{{cite news|last=Palin|first=Sarah|title=A 'Cap and Tax' Road to Economic Disaster|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/13/AR2009071302852.html?sid=ST2009071302882|access-date=March 12, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post Op-ed|date=July 14, 2009|quote=Consequently, many of us ... recognize that the president's cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the U.S. economy}} Speaking at a 2009 Department of Interior hearing, Palin acknowledged that "many believe" a global effort to reduce greenhouse gases is needed. She stated, "[S]topping domestic energy production of preferred fuels does not solve the issues associated with global warming and threatened or endangered species, but it can make them worse... These available fuels are required to supply the nation's energy needs during the transition to green energy alternatives."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-15-na-palin15-story.html|title=Palin sees gas drilling as step to curb global warming|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 15, 2009|access-date=August 15, 2010|first=Kim|last=Murphy}} After the election and the Climatic Research Unit email controversy, Palin spoke at a 2010 California logging conference calling studies supporting the scientific consensus on climate change "snake oil science". She attacked what she called "heavy-handed" environmental laws and cited her 2008 suit, as Alaska's governor, against the federal government to overturn the listing of polar bears as a threatened species. She considered environmental regulations as an economic burden to businesses trying to recover from the recession and environmental activists as wanting to "lock up the land".

File:Sarah Palin Kuwait 1.jpg

Palin is a strong supporter of Israel.{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/sarah_palin_tells_aipac_shes_pro_israel_20080902/+ |title=Sarah Palin tells AIPAC she's pro-Israel |work=Jewish Journal |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=December 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121104555/http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/sarah_palin_tells_aipac_shes_pro_israel_20080902/ |archive-date=November 21, 2008}}[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3591809,00.html Palin expresses support for Israel] by Yitzhak Benhorin, Ynetnews, September 3, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2010. Referring to Iran's threat to Israel, Palin said Obama would be reelected if "he played the war card. Say he decided to declare war on Iran or decided really come out and do whatever he could to support Israel, which I would like him to do."{{cite news|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/07/sarah-palin-on-fox-news-sunday/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207225438/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/07/sarah-palin-on-fox-news-sunday/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2010|title= Sarah Palin on Fox News Sunday|date=February 7, 2010|publisher=PoliticsDaily.com|author=Transcript|access-date=May 29, 2010}}

On foreign policy, Palin supported the George W. Bush administration's policies in Iraq, but was concerned that "dependence on foreign energy" may be obstructing efforts to "have an exit plan in place".{{cite news| last = Sullivan| first = Andrew| author-link = Andrew Sullivan| title = Palin on Iraq| department=The Daily Dish | work=The Atlantic | date =August 29, 2008 | url =http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/palin-on-iraq.html |access-date=May 28, 2010}}{{cite magazine| url = http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/09/08/080908ta_talk_gourevitch| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080831213036/http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/09/08/080908ta_talk_gourevitch| url-status=dead| archive-date = August 31, 2008| title = Palin on Obama | department=Butting Heads | last = Gourevitch| first = Philip| date=September 8, 2008 | magazine = The New Yorker|access-date=May 28, 2010}} Palin supports preemptive military action in the face of an imminent threat, and supports U.S. military operations in Pakistan. She also supported the surge strategy in Iraq, the use of additional ground forces in Afghanistan, and, in general, maintaining a strong defensive posture by increasing the defense budget.{{cite news |last1=Palin |first1=Sarah |title=Palin calls on Obama to stay true with Iraq |url=https://www.adn.com/politics/article/palin-calls-obama-stay-true-iraq/2010/08/31/ |access-date=August 20, 2020 |work=Anchorage Daily News |date=May 13, 2016}}

Palin opposed the Obama administration's proposed 2013 military intervention in Syrian Civil War, suggesting to let "Allah sort it out" in the Syrian Civil War.{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|title=Sarah Palin on Syria: 'Let Allah Sort it Out'|date=August 31, 2013|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-xpm-2013-aug-31-la-me-ln-sarah-palin-on-syria-let-allah-work-it-out-20130831-story.html}}

In 2008, Palin supported NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia,{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12palin.html | last = Rutenberg | first = Jim | date = September 11, 2008 | title = In First Big Interview, Palin Says, 'I'm Ready' | work = The New York Times|access-date=May 28, 2010}} and affirms that if Russia invaded a NATO member, the United States should meet its treaty obligations.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/11/war_with_russia_palin_talks_fo.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716162901/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/11/war_with_russia_palin_talks_fo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2012|title=War with Russia? Palin Talks Foreign Policy with ABC|last= Kessler|first=Glenn|date=September 11, 2008|work=TheTrail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008|access-date=May 21, 2010}} During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Palin advocated for a reduction in U.S. military aid to Ukraine and criticized U.S. involvement in the conflict.{{cite web|work=C-SPAN|title='Support continued U.S. aid for Ukraine in war against Russia?' Sarah Palin: 'We need to reduce it.'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z3mX_Xtw1g|date=October 28, 2022}}

Palin opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which placed limits on Iran's nuclear program, on the grounds that the treaty was not strict enough. In a September 9, 2015, speech, she said, "Only in an Orwellian Obama world full of sparkly fairy dust blown from atop his unicorn as he's peeking through a pretty pink kaleidoscope would he ever see victory or safety for America or Israel in this treaty."{{cite magazine|url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/576368/sarah-palin-mix-metaphor-stop-obamas-orwellian-fairy-dust-from-spreading|title=Sarah Palin will mix any metaphor to stop Obama's Orwellian fairy dust from spreading|magazine=The Week|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015}}

In 2020, Palin competed in season three of The Masked Singer as "Bear". She was the first of Group C to be eliminated and stated to Nick Cannon that she did it as a 'walking middle finger to the haters'.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/sarah-palin-masked-singer-walking-middle-finger-haters/|title=Sarah Palin says she went on The Masked Singer as a "walking middle finger to the haters"|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Rachel|last=Yang|date=May 6, 2020|access-date=April 13, 2024}}

File:Sarah Palin's house.jpg

In August 1988, Palin eloped with Todd Palin, her high-school sweetheart,{{cite news|last1=Kizza|first1=Tom|title=Part 1: 'Fresh face' launched, carries Palin's career: Wasilla mayor was groomed from an early political age|url=http://www.adn.com/2006/10/23/510447/part-1-fresh-face-launched-carries.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623100919/http://www.adn.com/2006/10/23/510447/part-1-fresh-face-launched-carries.html|archive-date=June 23, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=January 23, 2016|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=October 23, 2006}} and together they have five children: sons Track Charles James (born 1989)Palin, Sarah. (2009) Going Rogue. p. 51{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2199362/pagenum/all|title=The Sarah Palin FAQ: Everything you ever wanted to know about the Republican vice presidential nominee|date=September 4, 2008|work=Slate|first=Derek|last=Thompson|access-date=May 30, 2010}} and Trig Paxson Van (born 2008), and daughters Bristol Sheeran Marie{{cite web|last=Sobieraj Westfall|first=Sandra|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20282000,00.html|title=Bristol Palin 'My Life Comes Second Now'|work= Archive|date=June 1, 2009|access-date=May 30, 2010}} (born 1990), Willow Bianca Faye (born 1994), and Piper Indy Grace (born 2001).{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/sarah_palin/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=sarah%20palin%20&st=cse|author=New York Times staff|title=Times Topics, People, Sarah Palin|work=Biography|access-date=May 30, 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-08-29-2867523509_x.htm|title=McCain makes history with choice of running mate|agency=Associated Press|author=Quinn, Steve and Calvin Woodward|date=August 30, 2008|location=Juneau, Alaska|work=USA Today|access-date=May 29, 2010}} Palin's youngest child, Trig, born 2008, was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome.{{cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/2008/04/21/382560/palin-confirms-baby-has-down-syndrome.html|title=Palin confirms baby has Down syndrome|author=Demer, Lisa|date=April 21, 2008|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|access-date=May 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920195152/http://www.adn.com/2008/04/21/382560/palin-confirms-baby-has-down-syndrome.html|archive-date=September 20, 2010}}

Todd Palin worked for oil company BP as an oil-field production operator, retiring in 2009. He owns a commercial fishing business.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-07-na-todd7-story.html|title=New frontier in campaign spouses: Alaska's 'first dude' Todd Palin is a moose hunter, snowmobile racer, oil worker, union man and hockey dad|last=Miller|first=Marjorie|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 7, 2008|access-date=May 29, 2010}}

Palin was "baptized Catholic as a newborn" as her mother, Sally, had been raised Catholic. However, the Heath family "started going to non-denominational churches" thereafter.{{cite magazine|first=Jay|last=Newton-Small|title=Transcript: Time's interview with Sarah Palin|date=August 29, 2008|url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1837536,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901065440/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1837536,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2008|magazine=Time|access-date=May 29, 2010}} Later, her family joined the Wasilla Assembly of God, a Pentecostal church,{{cite web|url=http://www.wasillaag.org/index.php?nid=3720&s=au|title=About us|publisher=Wasilla Assembly of God|access-date=May 29, 2010|archive-date=July 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728171552/http://www.wasillaag.org/index.php?nid=3720&s=au|url-status=dead}} which she attended until 2002.{{cite web|url=http://app.razorplanet.com/acct/40149-8554/tmpl/index.php?s=au&nid=3731&news_id=8075&preview=true|title=Our Statement Concerning Governor Palin|publisher=Wasilla Assembly of God|date=August 30, 2008|access-date=August 7, 2012}} Palin then switched to the Wasilla Bible Church.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Lisa|author2=Coyne, Amanda|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2008/09/01/a-visit-to-palin-s-church.html|title= A Visit to Palin's Church: Scripture and discretion on the program in Wasilla|work=Newsweek|date=September 2, 2008|access-date=May 29, 2010}} Several news reports posted immediately after McCain named her his running mate called her the first Pentecostal/charismatic believer to appear on a major-party ticket.{{cite news|url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2008/08/palin-the-pente|title=Palin the Pentecostal?|last=Brachear|first=Manya|work=Chicago Tribune|date=August 29, 2008|access-date=May 28, 2014}}{{dead link|date=March 2017}} However, Palin herself eschews the "Pentecostal" or "charismatic" label, describing herself as a "Bible-believing Christian".

Todd filed for divorce from Sarah on August 29, 2019, citing "incompatibility of temperament". He requested an equal division of debts and assets, and to have joint custody of their son, Trig.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/sarah-palin-s-husband-todd-files-divorce-over-incompatibility-temperament-n1051636 |title=Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, files for divorce over 'incompatibility of temperament' |work=NBC News|date=September 9, 2019|access-date=September 9, 2019}} The divorce was finalized on March 23, 2020.[https://www.today.com/popculture/former-vp-candidate-sarah-palin-finalizes-divorce-records-show-t186142 "Former VP candidate Sarah Palin finalizes divorce, records show"]. Today. March 2020.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/politics/sarah-todd-palin-quietly-divorced/|title=Sarah & Todd Palin Quietly Divorced Earlier This Year, Court Records Show|website=PEOPLE}}

{{Main|Public image of Sarah Palin}}

In June 2008, the Alumni Association of North Idaho College gave Palin its Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.nic.edu/websites/index.asp?dpt=5&pageID=497|title=Alumni Awards|publisher=North Idaho College|access-date=February 14, 2010|archive-date=July 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718224929/http://www.nic.edu/websites/index.asp?dpt=5&pageID=497|url-status=dead}}

Prior to the 2008 Republican National Convention, a Gallup poll found that a majority of voters were unfamiliar with Sarah Palin. During her campaign to become vice president, 39% said Palin was ready to serve as president if needed, 33% said Palin was not, and 29% had no opinion. This was "the lowest vote of confidence in a running mate since the elder George Bush chose then-Indiana senator Dan Quayle to join his ticket in 1988."{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-30-palin-poll_N.htm|first=Susan|last=Page|title=Poll: Voters uncertain on Palin|date=August 30, 2008|work=USA Today|access-date=May 28, 2010}} Following the convention, her image came under close media scrutiny,{{cite news|url=http://2-fdnm.newsminer.com/news/2008/sep/03/alaska-delegates-see-more-republican-convention-at|title=Alaska delegates see more Republican convention attention|newspaper=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner|author=Delbridge, Rena|date=September 3, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/05/mccain_takes_stage_turns_down_heat|title=McCain takes stage, turns down heat|author=Weiss, Joanna|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=May 28, 2010|date=September 5, 2008}} particularly with regard to her religious perspective on public life, her socially conservative views, and her perceived lack of experience or intelligence. Palin's lack of experience in foreign and domestic politics was criticized by conservatives as well as liberals following her nomination.{{cite news|first=John F.|last=Harris|author2=Frerking, Beth|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/09/clinton-aides-palin-treatment-sexist-013129|title=Clinton aides: Palin treatment sexist|publisher=Politico|date=September 3, 2008|access-date=January 18, 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://frum.nationalreview.com/post/?q=M2VhOWE0N2VkOWI3MDdlODRlZWE4ODljMDc2NjliZDk=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830201600/http://frum.nationalreview.com/post/?q=M2VhOWE0N2VkOWI3MDdlODRlZWE4ODljMDc2NjliZDk=|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2008|title=Palin|last=Frum|first=David|author-link=David Frum|date=August 29, 2008|work=National Review|access-date=May 27, 2010}}{{cite news|first=George|last=Will|title=Impulse, Meet Experience|date=November 3, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202441.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 27, 2010}}{{cite news|author=Collins, Britt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/sep/17/poles.wildlife|title=Sarah Palin: The ice queen; Sarah Palin, the Republican party's vice-president nominee, governs an oil-rich area that has seen some of the most dramatic effects of climate change. So what's her record on environmental concerns?|work=The Guardian (UK)|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2010|location=London, UK}} At the same time, Palin became more popular than John McCain among Republicans.{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2008/2008_presidential_election/palin_power_fresh_face_now_more_popular_than_obama_mccain|title=Palin Power: Fresh Face Now More Popular Than Obama, McCain|date=September 5, 2008|publisher=Rasmussen Reports|access-date=December 1, 2010}} (full article requires subscription)

One month after being introduced as McCain's running mate, she was viewed both more favorably and unfavorably among voters than her Democratic opponent, Delaware Senator Joe Biden.{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2008/2008_presidential_election/palin_still_viewed_more_favorably_and_unfavorably_than_biden|title=Palin Still Viewed More Favorably – And Unfavorably – Than Biden|date=September 24, 2008|publisher=Rasmussen Reports}} A plurality of the television audience rated Biden's performance higher at the 2008 vice-presidential debate.{{cite news|title=45% Say Biden Won Debate, 37% Say Palin|date=October 4, 2008|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2008/2008_presidential_election/45_say_biden_won_debate_37_say_palin|publisher=Rasmussen Reports|access-date=August 7, 2012}}

Media outlets repeated Palin's statement that she "stood up to Big Oil" when she resigned after 11 months as the head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. She said it was because of abuses she witnessed involving other Republican commissioners and their ties to energy companies and energy lobbyists; she claimed to have confronted the industry when she raised taxes on oil companies as governor.{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/679|work=Politifact|title=Palin sought more taxes and more development from oil companies|publisher=St Petersburg Times|date=August 29, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSN1150293420080912|first=Ed|last=Stoddard|author2=Yereth Rosen|title=Is Palin foe of big oil or a new Cheney?|work=Reuters|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2010}} In turn, others have said that Palin is a "friend of Big Oil" due to her advocacy for oil exploration and development including for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and for the de-listing of the polar bear as an endangered species.

Since 2017, Palin has spoken out in support of Julian Assange and in 2020 she called for him to be pardoned, saying, "I am the first one to admit when I make a mistake and I admit that I made a mistake some years ago, not supporting Julian Assange, thinking that he was a bad guy”.{{cite news |title=Sarah Palin calls for Julian Assange to be pardoned, despite her being targeted by Wikileaks in 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/sarah-palin-jullian-assange-pardon-wikileaks-b1777096.html |work=The Independent}}

Palin was named one of America's "10 Most Fascinating People of 2008" by Barbara Walters for an ABC special on December 4, 2008.{{cite web|title=Barbara Walters Gets Up Close with 2008's Most Fascinating People|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Barbara-Walters-Special-1000398.aspx|first=Anna|last=Dimond|work=TV Guide|date=December 1, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2010}} In April 2010, she was selected as one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984864_1984871,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430233536/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984864_1984871,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 30, 2010|last=Nugent|first=Ted|title=The 2010 TIME 100: Leaders: Sarah Palin|magazine=Time|date=April 29, 2010|access-date=May 27, 2010}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=1992 Wasilla City Council Seat E election{{cite web |title=CITY OF WASILLA REGULAR ELECTION 10/06/92 |url=https://www.cityofwasilla.com/home/showdocument?id=1821 |publisher=City of Wasilla |access-date=March 12, 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Sarah Palin

|votes = 530

|percentage = 54.92

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = John Hartrick

|votes = 310

|percentage = 32.12

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Others

|votes = 125

|percentage = 12.95

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 965

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=1996 Wasilla mayoral election{{cite web |title=City of Wasilla 1996 Election Results |url=https://www.cityofwasilla.com/home/showdocument?id=1817 |publisher=City of Wasilla |access-date=March 12, 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Sarah H. Palin

|votes = 651

|percentage = 57.66

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = John C. Stein (incumbent)

|votes = 440

|percentage = 38.97

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Cliff Silvers

|votes = 36

|percentage = 3.19

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Others

|votes = 2

|percentage = 0.18

}}

{{Election box total no change|

|votes = 965

|percentage =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=1999 Wasilla mayoral election{{cite web |title=CITY OF WASILLA OCTOBER 5, 1999 REGULAR ELECTION OFFICIAL RESULTS |url=https://www.cityofwasilla.com/home/showdocument?id=41 |publisher=City of Wasilla |access-date=March 12, 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Sarah Palin (incumbent)

|votes = 909

|percentage = 73.60

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = John Stein

|votes = 292

|percentage = 23.64

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Nonpartisan politician

|candidate = Cliff Silvers

|votes = 32

|percentage = 2.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Write-in

|candidate = Others

|votes = 2

|percentage = 0.16

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes= 1,235

|percentage=32.62

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=2006 Alaska gubernatorial Republican primary{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/data/results.htm |access-date=February 11, 2010 |title=STATE OF ALASKA – 2006 PRIMARY ELECTION AUGUST 22, 2006 OFFICIAL RESULTS|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304115107/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/06prim/data/results.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2010}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party of Alaska

|candidate = Sarah Palin

|Experience = Mayor of Wasilla

|votes = 51,443

|percentage = 50.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska

|candidate = John Binkley

|votes = 30,349

|percentage = 29.84

|

|Experience = State Senator

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska

|candidate = Frank Murkowski (incumbent)

|votes = 19,412

|percentage = 19.09

|

|Experience = Incumbent Governor

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska

|candidate = Gerald Heikes

|votes = 280

|percentage = 0.28

|

|Experience = None

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party = Republican Party of Alaska

|candidate = Merica Hlatcu

|votes = 211

|percentage = 0.21

|

|Experience = None

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 101,695

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=2006 Alaska gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/06GENR/data/results.htm |title=Alaska Division of Elections November 7, 2006|publisher=Alaska Division of Elections |date=November 7, 2006 |access-date=April 22, 2019}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Sarah Palin

| votes = 114,697

| percentage = 48.33

| change = -7.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Tony Knowles

| votes = 97,238

| percentage = 40.97

| change = +0.3}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Independent (politician)

| candidate = Andrew Halcro

| votes = 22,443

| percentage = 9.46

| change = n/a}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Alaskan Independence Party

| candidate = Don Wright

| votes = 1,285

| percentage = 0.54

| change = -0.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Billy Toien

| votes = 682

| percentage = 0.29

| change = -0.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

| party = Green Party of Alaska

| candidate = David Massie

| votes = 593

| percentage = 0.25

| change = -1.0}}

{{Election box candidate|

| party = Write-in candidate

| candidate = Write-in votes

| votes = 384

| percentage = 0.16

| change = +0.1}}

{{Election box plurality|

| votes = 17,459

| percentage = 7.36

| change =}}

{{Election box turnout|

| votes = 238,307

| percentage = 51.1

| change = }}

{{Election box hold with party link|

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| swing = -7.6}}

{{Election box end}}

• Going Rogue: An American Life, HarperCollins, 2009
• America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag, HarperCollins, 2010
• Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas, HarperCollins, 2013
• Sweet Freedom: A Devotional, Regnery Publishing, 2015

• List of female governors in the United States

{{Portal|Alaska|Biography}}

{{Clear}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite news

|url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/510447.html

|title=Part 1: 'Fresh face' launched Palin: Wasilla mayor was groomed from an early political age

|first=Tom

|last=Kizzia

|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News

|date=October 23, 2006

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623100919/http://www.adn.com/2006/10/23/510447/part-1-fresh-face-launched-carries.html

|archive-date=June 23, 2011

|access-date=February 14, 2010

|url-status=dead

}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/03/palins_alaskan_town_proud_wary|title=Palin's Alaskan town proud, wary |first=Michael |last=Levenson |work=The Boston Globe |date=September 3, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2009}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=451|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731055440/http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=451|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2013|title=1992 Vote Results |publisher=City of Wasilla |access-date=September 12, 2008}}

{{cite web|url=http://doa.alaska.gov/ogc/WhoWeAre/terms.html |title=Commissioners – Terms in Office |work=Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission |publisher=Alaska Department of Administration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924215935/http://doa.alaska.gov/ogc/WhoWeAre/terms.html |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |access-date=February 8, 2010 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/510276.html |title=Palin explains her actions in Ruedrich case |first=Richard |last=Mauer |newspaper=Anchorage Daily News |date=September 19, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917064445/http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/510276.html |archive-date=September 17, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2008}} The Daily News dates this story as November 19, 2004, but the story {{cite web |url=http://www.adn.com/front/story/5572779p-5504444c.html |title=actually was published on September 19, 2004 |access-date=March 29, 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010162606/http://www.adn.com/front/story/5572779p-5504444c.html |archive-date=October 10, 2004}}

{{cite news|title='Sarah Palin's Alaska' Breaks TLC Ratings Record |first=James |last=Hibberd |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 15, 2010 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/sarah-palins-alaska-breaks-tlc-45421 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805114926/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/sarah-palins-alaska-breaks-tlc-45421 |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 |url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Sister project links|wikt=no|v=no|s=no|b=no|species=no|d=Q43144}}

{{Wiktionary|Palinista|Palinism|refudiate}}

• {{YouTube|u=SarahPalinAK|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}
• {{IMDb name|3126606}}
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• [https://www.politifact.com/personalities/sarah-palin/ Sarah Palin] at Politifact

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