Senator John McCain has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Palin is Alaska's youngest and first female Governor. She was elected in 2006.

She will be the first woman to serve on a Republican presidential ticket, and the first Alaskan to serve on a national presidential ticket.

Palin was a council member and mayor of the small town of Wasila, and chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2003 and 2004.

She is married to Dough Palin, who has won the Alaskan snow machine race "Iron Dog" four times. They have 5 children.

Photo Courtesy KTVA