Events in Palin's political career
The Associated Press_ 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 a former 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 gone through a divorce from 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 Troopergate.
_ November 2008 — McCain and Palin lose the 2008 presidential race.
_ June 2009 — Palin blasts comedian David Letterman for making a joke about her daughter getting "knocked up" by New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez. Letterman apologizes.
_ July 2009 — Palin makes a surprise announcement, saying she is resigning from her post as governor at the end of the month.