Sarah Louise Heath Palin (IPA: /ˈpeɪlɨn/; born February 11, 1964) is the governor of Alaska, and the presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee for the 2008 United States presidential election.
Palin was elected governor in 2006 after defeating incumbent governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and former Democratic governor Tony Knowles in the general election. She was the youngest person, and the first woman, to be elected governor of Alaska. She gained attention for publicizing ethical violations by state Republican Party leaders. Before becoming governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council from 1992 to 1996, was elected and re-elected mayor of Wasilla for two three-year terms in 1996 and 1999. She also ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2002. Palin holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Idaho.
On August 29, 2008, Republican presidential candidate John McCain chose Palin to serve as his running mate,[2][3][4] making her the first female vice presidential candidate of the Republican Party and the second female vice presidential candidate representing a major political party. She will also be the first politician from Alaska to run on a national ticket for president or vice president. More
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