Sarah Palin

[Samof94]

Why did she not run yet discussed it a lot??? I’m not saying she could have won, but she seemed like she could have run as a low tier candidate easily.

[Stranger in a strange land]

As others have said, looking at the mess around Troopergate is probably a good place to start.

[Redban]

She left her governorship in 2009 at age 45 (with high approval ratings), and she didn't run for office again until 2022, aged 58. Ages 45 through 58 are often considered prime age for a politician. But she sat them out.

I get the sense she probably just didn't want to be in politics at that time.

[Sumner 1868]

The media wanted her to run for cheap ratings, but everyone knew she couldn't win so she didn't.