A look at some of the events in Gov. Sarah Palin's political career:
December 2006: The former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, becomes governor after defeating an incumbent in the Republican primary and then beating a former governor in the general election.
August 2008: John McCain picks Palin as his vice presidential running mate, making her 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 to Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
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 at the end of the month.
Source: Associated Press
