Sarah Palin first rose to national prominence as the former Governor of Alaska and the Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2008.
Despite her high-profile political life, it’s her recent private decisions that are drawing headlines. In 2020, after more than three decades of marriage, Sarah announced her divorce from Todd Palin — a split that surprised many critics and supporters alike.
Details of the breakup were quite shocking, but now the former Republican vice presidential nominee has shed more light on her high-profile split.
Family & Background
Born in 1964 in Sandpoint, Idaho, Sarah Palin moved to Alaska with her family just a few months later. She grew up in the small town of Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage.
At Wasilla High, she shone on the basketball court and earned the nickname “Sarah Barracuda” for her fierce playing style. “I know this sounds hokey, but basketball was a life-changing experience for me. It’s all about setting a goal, discipline, teamwork, and then success,” she said.
In high school she met her future husband Todd Palin at a game, and in August 1988 they quietly tied the knot at a courthouse—after convincing two nearby residents to serve as their witnesses. Sarah later explained they eloped because they didn’t want their families to pay for a big wedding while they had little money.
Together, Sarah and Todd have five kids: Track (1989), Bristol (1990), Willow (1994), Piper (2001), and Trig (2008), who was born with Down syndrome.
She worked as a sports reporter and helped run her husband’s commercial-fishing business before jumping into politics in 1992. By 2006, she made history as Alaska’s youngest and first female governor.
Todd, often called the “First Dude,” supported her career — though friends say he wasn’t excited about the spotlight. “He was almost embarrassed about it or shy, I guess,” one friend told The New York Times.
The Palin family lived in a cozy two-story home right by Lake Lucille in Wasilla — about 3,400 square feet of Alaskan peace and quiet. For years, everyone saw Sarah and Todd as the perfect couple.
When John McCain chose Sarah as his running mate back in 2008, Todd was often by her side, juggling campaign life and caring for their kids. Sarah liked to call herself “just your average hockey mom,” but life behind the scenes wasn’t always that simple.
Only a few days into the campaign, she dropped a bombshell — her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant. For the deeply Christian Palin family, that news hit hard.
Sarah later said, “We were just a microcosm of America — a real family, with real problems.”
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According to Bristol’s then-boyfriend Levi Johnston, Sarah even wanted to keep the pregnancy a secret at first — she allegedly suggested adopting the baby herself to protect her daughter’s privacy. But once the news went public, Sarah and Todd put out a statement saying they were proud of Bristol’s choice and even prouder to become grandparents.
Fast forward to today — Bristol’s 31, a mom of three, and running her own real estate business in Texas. No matter the drama, she’s clearly built a solid life for herself.
The Upset & The Aftermath
For years, everyone thought Sarah and Todd Palin had the perfect marriage — strong faith, family values, and 30+ years of love holding them together.
But just days after their 31st wedding anniversary in 2019, Sarah says she got a divorce notice… by email.
After everything they’d been through, finding out that way — and from a third party — completely shattered her.
“I found out from an email from an attorney saying that she was hired and that was on June 19; I’ll never forget it… Oh, yeah. It’s not easy to talk about,” she said in an interview with Christian author James Dobson.
In September 2019, Todd filed for divorce, saying he and Sarah were just too different to keep living together as husband and wife. 💔
But Sarah wasn’t ready to give up. She fought hard to save her marriage and even went to counseling, saying, “It’s not over, over.”
She admitted the legal process was rough: “The attorneys are getting rich off of us — it makes no sense to me.”
Through it all, her kids stood by her side. “My kids don’t like it either,” she said. “They were raised to believe marriage is a promise before God — you stick together through the good and the bad.”
Sarah added that her parents had been married for 58 years, and that strong example kept her going: “You make a vow to God, and no matter what hurdles come, you face them together.”
Divorce rumors and scandals had swirled around Sarah and Todd for years, but this time it was the real deal. Their divorce was finalized on March 23, 2020.
New boyfriend
After her split, Sarah Palin stayed quiet for a while, keeping her private life out of the spotlight. But in April 2022, she finally opened up about her heartbreak — and her new love.
Talking to the New York Post, Sarah said the divorce still hurts:
“It was the most earth-shattering, bizarre thing I could’ve ever imagined.”
These days, she and her ex only talk when it comes to their youngest son, Trig. Todd’s moved on and now has a girlfriend in New York City — and spends a lot of time there.
But Sarah’s also found happiness again! She’s dating former New York Rangers star Ron Duguay The two were longtime friends, and their romance began when Sarah asked him to show her around NYC. She says their relationship feels “safe and comfortable.”
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“Ron’s the first person I’ve ever really opened up to about a lot of personal stuff,” Sarah shared. “He’s grounded, smart, and easy to talk to — not just about politics, but about life.”
Ron’s been right by her side, even helping with her campaign as she runs for Alaska’s congressional seat.
Divorce is never easy, especially when kids are involved, but it’s clear Sarah’s finding her peace — and a fresh start with someone who truly supports her.
