Sarah Palin rose to national fame in 2008 when John McCain selected the “little-known Alaska governor” as his running mate. Her confident, folksy style and outsider image made her a political sensation, though her public life would later give way to more personal challenges.

Born in Sandpoint, Idaho, and raised in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin was a standout high school athlete, especially in basketball. She met Todd Palin at a game, and in 1988 they eloped at a courthouse, finding witnesses at a nearby retirement home because they couldn’t afford a wedding.

The couple built a family with five children and a life closely tied to Alaska. Palin worked in journalism, helped with the family fishing business, and entered politics, becoming Alaska’s youngest and first female governor in 2006.

Todd Palin, often referred to as the “First Dude,” avoided the spotlight. An oil-field worker and competitive snowmobile racer, he took on more parenting responsibilities as Palin’s political profile exploded during the 2008 campaign.

Behind the scenes, the marriage struggled. In 2019, after more than 30 years together, Todd filed for divorce. Palin later said she learned about it through “an attorney’s email.” The divorce was finalized in March 2020. Since then, contact has focused on co-parenting their youngest child, while Palin has moved forward personally and politically, continuing to reappear on the campaign trail despite public setbacks.