Career Timeline of Sarah Palin: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Sarah Palin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Sarah Palin is an American politician best known for serving as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009 and as the Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2008, running alongside John McCain. A conservative commentator and author, Palin's rise to national prominence was marked by her populist appeal and strong stance on social issues. Since leaving office, she has remained active in the political sphere, primarily as a commentator and media personality, often expressing views aligned with the conservative wing of the Republican party.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1992: Elected to Wasilla City Council

In 1992, Sarah Palin was elected to the Wasilla City Council.

October 1996: Eliminated Museum Director Position

In October 1996, Sarah Palin eliminated the position of museum director in Wasilla shortly after taking office as mayor.

1996: Elected Mayor of Wasilla

In 1996, Sarah Palin was elected mayor of Wasilla.

1998: City Council Reversed Salary Reduction

By mid 1998, the Wasilla city council reversed Sarah Palin's action of reducing her own salary.

1999: Re-elected as Mayor of Wasilla

In 1999, Sarah Palin was re-elected as mayor of Wasilla.

December 2002: Murkowski Resigned From U.S. Senate Seat

In December 2002, Frank Murkowski resigned from his long-held U.S. Senate seat to assume the governorship, after which he appointed his daughter Lisa Murkowski to the seat.

2002: Completion of Second Mayoral Term

In 2002, Sarah Palin completed her second consecutive three-year term as mayor of Wasilla.

February 2003: Appointed to Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

In February 2003, Sarah Palin was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing Alaska's oil and gas fields for safety and efficiency.

2003: Served as Director for Political Training Group

From 2003 to June 2005, Sarah Palin served as one of three directors of "Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.", an organization for political training for Republican women in Alaska.

January 2004: Resignation from Commission and Public Complaint

In January 2004, Sarah Palin resigned from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and filed a public complaint against Randy Ruedrich.

2004: Decision Not to Run for U.S. Senate

In 2004, Sarah Palin decided not to run for the U.S. Senate because her teenage son opposed it.

June 2005: Served as Director for Political Training Group

From 2003 to June 2005, Sarah Palin served as one of three directors of "Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.", an organization for political training for Republican women in Alaska.

December 4, 2006: Took Office as Governor of Alaska

On December 4, 2006, Sarah Palin took office as governor of Alaska.

2006: Palin Defeated Murkowski in Republican Primary

In 2006, Sarah Palin defeated incumbent Governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican gubernatorial primary, running on a clean-government platform.

2006: Palin's support for building the Gravina Island Bridge

In 2006, Sarah Palin ran for governor with a "build-the-bridge" plank in her platform, stating that she would not allow the project to be negatively portrayed. She criticized the use of the word "nowhere" and urged speedy work on building the infrastructure.

2006: Elected Governor of Alaska

In 2006, Sarah Palin was elected as the youngest person and the first woman to serve as governor of Alaska at the age of 42.

March 2007: Alaska offers bounty for wolf hunting

In March 2007, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game offered a bounty of $150 per wolf to volunteer pilots and gunners in five areas of Alaska to offset fuel costs, as part of a predator control program.

April 2007: State biologists set wolf kill target

In April 2007, state biologists aimed to kill 382 to 664 wolves by the end of the predator-control season.

May 2007: Palin's job approval rating reaches high

In May 2007, Sarah Palin's job approval rating as governor of Alaska reached a high of 93%.

June 2007: Palin signs $6.6 billion operating budget and vetoes capital budget cuts

In June 2007, Sarah Palin signed a $6.6 billion operating budget into law as governor of Alaska. At the same time, she utilized her veto power to implement the second-largest cuts to the capital budget in the state's history, reducing it by $237 million, affecting over 300 local projects and bringing the total capital budget down to $1.6 billion.

July 2007: Signed Ethics Reform Bill

In July 2007, Sarah Palin signed a bipartisan ethics reform bill into law, calling it a "first step" in cleaning up Alaska politics.

August 2007: Sale of Westwind II jet

In August 2007, the Westwind II jet, which was previously purchased by the Murkowski administration, was listed on eBay; however, the sale fell through. The plane was later sold for $2.1 million through a private brokerage firm.

September 2007: Palin cancels Gravina Island Bridge

In September 2007, Sarah Palin canceled the Gravina Island Bridge project, citing a lack of interest from Congress due to inaccurate portrayals of the project. Alaska did not return the $442 million in federal transportation funds.

2007: Conservative Commentators Meet Palin

In 2007, several conservative commentators met Sarah Palin and some, like Bill Kristol, later suggested that John McCain choose her as his vice presidential running mate.

January 17, 2008: State of the State address emphasizing economic development

On January 17, 2008, in her State of the State address, Sarah Palin emphasized that Alaska should continue to develop its economy and reduce reliance on federal government funding. During Palin's time as governor, Alaska's federal congressional representatives reduced requests for pork-barrel projects.

February 2008: McCain Meets Palin

In February 2008, John McCain and Sarah Palin met at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, where McCain was impressed by Palin.

July 11, 2008: Palin dismisses Walt Monegan

On July 11, 2008, Sarah Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, citing performance-related issues such as not being a team player on budgeting issues and egregious rogue behavior.

August 1, 2008: Alaska Legislature hires investigator to review Monegan dismissal

On August 1, 2008, the Alaska Legislature hired an investigator, Stephen Branchflower, to review the dismissal of Walt Monegan. The legislators wanted to determine whether Palin's action had been motivated by anger at Monegan for not firing Trooper Wooten. Palin pledged to cooperate.

August 2008: Palin authorizes pipeline construction and pledges seed money

In August 2008, Sarah Palin signed a bill authorizing the State of Alaska to award TransCanada Pipelines a license to build and operate a pipeline to transport natural gas from the Alaska North Slope to the continental United States through Canada. Palin also pledged $500 million in seed money to support the project.

August 24, 2008: McCain Advisers Discuss Vice Presidential Picks

On August 24, 2008, Steve Schmidt and other senior McCain campaign advisers discussed potential vice presidential picks, with the consensus settling around Sarah Palin.

August 26, 2008: Alaskans vote against ending predator control program

On August 26, 2008, Alaskans voted against ending the state's predator control program, which included aerial wolf hunting.

September 3, 2008: Palin Delivers Acceptance Speech

On September 3, 2008, Sarah Palin delivered a 40-minute acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, which was well-received and watched by over 40 million people.

October 10, 2008: Release of the Branchflower Report

On October 10, 2008, the Alaska Legislative Council released the Branchflower Report, which found that firing Walt Monegan was lawful, but that Sarah Palin abused her power as governor and violated the state's Executive Branch Ethics Act by pressuring Monegan to fire Trooper Wooten.

November 3, 2008: State of Alaska Personnel Board reports no ethical violations

On November 3, 2008, the State of Alaska Personnel Board reported that there was no probable cause to believe that Sarah Palin or any other state official had violated state ethical standards. The report also stated that the Branchflower Report used the wrong statute in reaching its conclusions.

November 2008: Draft Palin Movement Begins

In November 2008, following Sarah Palin's prominence in the presidential campaign, an active "Draft Palin" movement emerged, encouraging her to run for president.

December 2008: Palin rejects pay raise recommendation

In December 2008, an Alaska state commission recommended increasing the governor's annual salary from $125,000 to $150,000. Sarah Palin stated that she would not accept the pay raise, which led to the commission dropping the recommendation.

2008: Palin vetoes funding for 350 projects

In 2008, Sarah Palin vetoed $286 million, which cut or reduced funding for 350 projects from the FY09 capital budget in Alaska.

2008: Nominated as Vice Presidential Running Mate

In 2008, Sarah Palin was nominated as John McCain's vice presidential running mate at the Republican National Convention, becoming the first Republican female vice presidential nominee.

2008: Palin's characterization of her position on the Gravina Island Bridge

In 2008, as a vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin stated that she had told Congress "thanks, but no thanks, on that bridge to nowhere." Ketchikan residents claimed that this was false and a betrayal of Palin's previous support for their community.

2008: Public Opinion and Scrutiny During Campaign

In 2008, during her campaign for Vice President, Sarah Palin faced scrutiny regarding her religious views, social conservatism, perceived lack of experience, and intelligence. She became more popular than John McCain among Republicans.

2008: Comparison to Joe Biden in Public Opinion

In 2008, one month after being introduced as McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin's favorability was compared to that of her Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, with a plurality of the television audience rating Biden's performance higher at the vice-presidential debate.

2008: Impact of Palin on the 2008 Presidential Election

In 2008, political scientists began debating the impact that Sarah Palin had on the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.

2008: Palin chosen as John McCain's running mate

Several weeks after the start of "troopergate," Sarah Palin was chosen as John McCain's running mate in 2008.

January 19, 2009: Palin Appears on Glenn Beck's Show

On January 19, 2009, Sarah Palin was the first guest on Glenn Beck's Fox News television show, where she commented on Barack Obama, stating that he would be her president and she would assist in bringing progress to the nation without abandoning her conservative views.

January 27, 2009: Palin Forms SarahPAC

On January 27, 2009, Sarah Palin formed the political action committee SarahPAC, with Michael Glassner as chief of staff.

February 2009: Change in tax policy for per diems

In February 2009, the State of Alaska reversed its tax policy and decided that per diems paid to state employees for stays in their own homes would be treated as taxable income and included in employees' gross income on their W-2 forms. Sarah Palin had ordered the review of the tax policy.

May 2009: Palin's job approval rating reaches low

In May 2009, Sarah Palin's job approval rating as governor of Alaska reached a low of 54%.

July 3, 2009: Palin announces resignation as governor

On July 3, 2009, Sarah 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 cited the significant amount of time and money spent responding to "opposition research", FOIA requests, and legal ethics complaints as a contributing factor.

July 26, 2009: Sean Parnell becomes governor

On July 26, 2009, Sean Parnell became governor of Alaska in an inaugural ceremony in Fairbanks, following Sarah Palin's resignation taking effect.

November 2009: Release of 'Going Rogue: An American Life'

In November 2009, Sarah Palin released her memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life," detailing her private and political career, including her resignation as Governor of Alaska. Sales of the book exceeded one million copies in less than two weeks.

Going Rogue: An American Life

Check it on Amazon

November 16, 2009: Palin Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey

On November 16, 2009, Sarah Palin had a widely publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey to promote her book.

2009: Palin requests federal earmarks

Despite increased state revenues, for the 2009 state budget, Sarah Palin requested $197 million in federal earmarks or requests for funding, which was a major decrease from earlier years. Palin cited decreasing support for federal funding as a source of friction between her and the state's congressional delegation.

2009: Resignation as Governor

In 2009, Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska and has since campaigned for the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement.

2009: Todd Palin's Retirement from BP

In 2009, Todd Palin retired from his position as an oil-field production operator for BP.

February 6, 2010: Palin Speaks at Tea Party Convention

On February 6, 2010, Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker at the first Tea Party convention in Nashville, Tennessee, criticizing Obama for rising deficits and "apologizing for America."

March 2010: Sarah Palin's Alaska Premieres on TLC

In March 2010, Sarah Palin's show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," premiered on TLC, produced by Mark Burnett. The premiere episode garnered five million viewers, a record for TLC.

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May 2010: Palin Speaks at Susan B. Anthony List Fundraiser

In May 2010, Sarah Palin spoke at a fundraiser for the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion political advocacy group, where she coined the term "mama grizzly".

November 2010: Release of 'America by Heart'

In November 2010, HarperCollins released Sarah Palin's second book, "America by Heart," containing excerpts from her favorite speeches, sermons, and literature, as well as portraits of people she admires.

America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag

Check it on Amazon

November 2010: Considering a White House Run

In November 2010, Sarah Palin confirmed she was considering a run for the White House, acknowledging that her experience level could hinder her nomination, and she criticized the media's focus on her personal life.

November 2010: Palin's Endorsements in the 2010 Elections

In the months ahead of the November 2010 elections, Sarah Palin endorsed 64 Republican candidates and was a significant fundraising asset to those she campaigned for during the primary season.

December 2010: New Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Rules Take Effect

In December 2010, new rules governing Alaska executive branch ethics, stemming from Palin's tenure as governor, took effect. The new rules allow for the state to pay legal costs for officials cleared of ethics violations and permit family members of the governor or lieutenant governor to travel at state cost in certain circumstances.

2010: Palin's decision not to run for reelection

In 2010, Sarah Palin decided not to run for reelection in the Alaska gubernatorial election.

2010: Endorsement of Sharron Angle

In 2010, Sarah Palin's endorsement helped Sharron Angle secure a 40.1% primary win in Nevada. Despite Angle's lead in early polling, Harry Reid ultimately won the 2010 election with 50.3% of the vote.

2010: Palin's Endorsement of Christine O'Donnell

In 2010, Sarah Palin's endorsement of Christine O'Donnell, who was running for Joe Biden's former Senate seat in Delaware, increased tensions between Palin and the Republican establishment.

2010: Electoral Studies Analysis of Palin's Impact

In 2010, a study in the journal Electoral Studies found that Sarah Palin's campaign performance cost McCain just under 2% of the final vote share.

March 2011: Call for a Woman President

In March 2011, Sarah Palin stated, "It's time that a woman is president of the United States of America,".

October 5, 2011: Decision Not to Seek Nomination

On October 5, 2011, Sarah Palin announced her decision not to seek the Republican nomination for president.

2011: Palin Speaks at Tea Party Rallies

In 2011, Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker at an annual tax day tea party rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison and a featured speaker at a Tea Party Express rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

2012: Presidential Nomination Speculation

In 2012, speculation arose about Sarah Palin seeking the Republican presidential nomination, with pundits identifying her as a front-runner, influenced by her impact on previous primaries.

January 2013: Palin and Fox News End Relationship

Sarah Palin and Fox News ended their relationship in January 2013.

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June 13, 2013: Palin Rejoins Fox News Channel

On June 13, 2013, Sarah Palin rejoined Fox News Channel as an analyst.

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2013: Political Research Quarterly Study on Palin's Impact

In 2013, a study in the journal Political Research Quarterly failed to find an adverse impact of Sarah Palin on the 2008 election.

August 2014: Support for Referendum to Repeal Tax Cuts

In August 2014, Sarah Palin supported a referendum to repeal oil-and-gas industry tax cuts, but it was narrowly defeated.

October 2014: Endorsement of Walker and Mallott

In October 2014, Sarah Palin endorsed the "unity ticket" of Independent Bill Walker and Democrat Byron Mallott in the 2014 Alaska gubernatorial election, opposing her successor Sean Parnell.

November 2014: Walker and Mallott Win Governorship

In November 2014, Bill Walker and Byron Mallott won the Alaska governorship with 48.1% of the vote, defeating the Republican ticket.

January 2016: Endorsement of Donald Trump

In January 2016, Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump for President of the United States.

May 2016: Opposition to Paul Ryan

In May 2016, Sarah Palin stated she would work to defeat Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan due to his reluctance to support Donald Trump.

December 31, 2016: Sarah PAC Terminated

Sarah PAC was terminated as of December 31, 2016.

August 2021: Hint at Senate Bid

In August 2021, Sarah Palin hinted at a possible Senate bid, potentially challenging incumbent Lisa Murkowski.

April 3, 2022: Trump Endorses House Run

On April 3, 2022, former president Donald Trump endorsed Sarah Palin's run for the House of Representatives, following the death of Alaska's at-large congressman.