Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska who captured national attention as John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate in 2008, remains a figure few Americans have forgotten.

Once a youthful, outspoken politician and former beauty queen, Palin rose rapidly to prominence as the first woman nominated for vice president by the Republican Party, becoming a cultural and political force almost overnight. After the election, she stepped away from the governor’s office in 2009 and transitioned into media, authoring books, giving speeches, appearing on television, and remaining an influential conservative voice even as her political spotlight dimmed. In recent years, however, Palin has demonstrated that she is far from finished, reentering the political arena with her 2022 run for Alaska’s at-large congressional seat and increasing her presence on social media to connect with a new generation of followers.