Details of events in Palin’s political career

Events in Palin’s political career

— 1992-1996 — Sarah Palin enters public life in Alaska, serving two terms on the Wasilla City Council.

— 1996-2002 — Palin is elected Wasilla mayor, serves two terms until term limits force her from office.

— 2002 — Palin loses her first statewide campaign for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.

— 2002 — Palin is named chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission by then-Gov. Frank Murkowski.

— 2003 — Palin splits with party leaders by exposing ethics violations by Randy Ruedrich, the head of Alaskas Republican Party and a fellow commissioner on the AOGCC.

— 2006 — Palin becomes Alaska governor after defeating the incumbent, Murkowski, in the primary and then beating Democrat Tony Knowles, a former two-term governor, in the general election.

— August 2008 — John McCain picks Palin as his vice presidential running mate in a startling selection that makes the Alaska governor the first woman named to a spot on a Republican national ticket.

— September 2008 — An announcement that Palin’s then 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant creates a stir as the governor prepares to accept her nomination at the Republican National Convention.

— October 2008 — Palin is investigated for the firing of a public safety commissioner who said he felt pressure from the governor, her husband and her staff to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin’s sister. The Alaska Legislature finds Palin abused her power in office, but a report released by the Alaska Personnel Board on the eve of the election clears Palin of wrongdoing in so-called Troopergate.

— November 2008 — McCain and Palin lose the 2008 presidential race.

— January-April 2009 — Palin returns to Alaska, but finds her relationship with lawmakers has deteriorated after the partisan presidential election.

— July 3, 2009 — Palin makes surprise announcement that she will resign as governor.

— July 26, 2009 — Palin resigns.