When you think of the high-stakes, caffeine-fueled world of D.C. politics, names like Reince Priebus usually come with images of late-night strategy sessions and cable news segments. But behind the scenes of his rise from a Wisconsin lawyer to the Chairman of the Republican National Committee and eventually White House Chief of Staff is a person who has been there since the literal beginning. That would be Sally Priebus, his wife of over 25 years.
She isn't exactly a tabloid fixture. Honestly, that’s probably by design. While some political spouses seek out the limelight or launch their own public-facing initiatives, Sally has mostly stayed in the "supportive partner" lane, maintaining a private life for herself and their two kids while her husband navigated the absolute meat grinder of American governance.
Who is Reince Priebus's Wife?
Sally Priebus—born Sally L. Sherrow—didn't meet Reince in a stuffy Washington law firm or at a high-end political fundraiser. They aren't a "power couple" who met over policy briefs.
Basically, they are high school sweethearts.
They met back in Wisconsin when they were just teenagers. The setting was about as wholesome as it gets: a church event. It’s kinda rare to see that kind of longevity in the political world, where marriages often crumble under the pressure of public scrutiny and 80-hour work weeks. But they’ve been together since they were kids, finally tying the knot in 1999.
A Partnership Built in Kenosha
Reince grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and that’s where the roots of their relationship really took hold. While Reince was busy being the student body president at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and later moving into law, Sally was the steady presence by his side. They aren't just partners; they are two people who grew up together.
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In 1999, the same year they married, Reince was just starting his legal career. They spent years building a life in Wisconsin long before "Reince" became a household name for political junkies. They lived in a Cape Cod–style home in Kenosha for a long time—a house they eventually sold for around $300,000 back in 2017 when the move to D.C. became permanent.
Life in the D.C. Bubble
The jump from Kenosha to the nation's capital is a massive cultural shock. You go from a quiet neighborhood where people know your name because you're a neighbor to a city where people know your name because they want something from you.
When Donald Trump tapped Reince to be his Chief of Staff in 2017, the family had to relocate. Sally and Reince bought a home in Alexandria, Virginia, for about $1.25 million. It’s a beautiful spot, close to Mount Vernon. It was a necessary move, but it shifted the family dynamic into the center of the political storm.
During those intense months in the White House, Sally was occasionally seen at official events:
- The 58th Presidential Inauguration (looking understandably stoic).
- The White House Correspondents' Dinner (a yearly ritual for the D.C. elite).
- The 2012 and 2016 Republican National Conventions.
But even at these high-profile events, she rarely gave interviews. She didn't have a "platform" in the way some political spouses do. She seemed focused on the home front—raising their two children, Jack and Grace.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Sally Priebus
There is a misconception that being a political wife is all about glitz and influence. For Sally, the reality seems much more grounded. While her husband was dealing with the fallout of various political scandals or trying to manage the Republican party's $23 million debt (which he successfully erased, by the way), Sally was managing the reality of a family that had been uprooted.
Friends of the couple have often noted that she is his "anchor." When Reince was ousted as Chief of Staff in July 2017—replaced by John Kelly after a particularly turbulent period—it was Sally who was there for the transition back to "normal" life.
The Career Question
People often ask what Sally does for a living. Unlike some D.C. spouses who are lobbyists or high-powered consultants, Sally has kept her professional life very quiet. There are records of her involvement in community and church activities, but she has largely avoided the professional-political complex that defines so much of Northern Virginia and D.C.
The Priebus Family Today
As of 2026, the family has largely moved away from the daily chaos of the 24-hour news cycle. Reince is back in the private sector, working as the President of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Sally remains his primary confidante. They still have their home in Alexandria, though they maintain deep ties to Wisconsin. You’ll still catch them at a Green Bay Packers game because, let’s be real, you can take the family out of Wisconsin, but you can’t take the "Packer fan" out of a Priebus.
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Key Facts at a Glance
- Maiden Name: Sally Sherrow.
- Married Since: 1999.
- Children: Jack and Grace.
- Hometown: Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- Religion: They are active in the Greek Orthodox Church (Reince is Greek Orthodox).
Why Their Marriage Matters
In a town where marriages are often seen as strategic alliances, the Priebus's relationship feels like an outlier. They met as kids, stayed together through the "rising star" years in Wisconsin, survived the meat grinder of the Trump White House, and came out the other side still married.
If you're looking for dirt or drama, you won't find much here. Sally Priebus has mastered the art of being a public figure’s spouse without becoming a "public figure" herself. She provides a sense of normalcy to a man whose job was anything but normal for a long time.
If you're interested in following the careers of former White House officials, the best way is to keep an eye on their professional firm bios—like Reince’s page at Michael Best—or their occasional appearances at major party conventions. For Sally, however, your best bet is to look for her in the stands of a football game or at a local community event in Virginia, far away from the cameras.
Actionable Insights:
- Research Local Roots: If you're writing about political figures, always look at their life before D.C. The most interesting stuff about Sally and Reince is in their Kenosha history, not their White House tenure.
- Value Privacy: Recognize that not every spouse in politics wants to be a celebrity. Sally's "success" is in her ability to maintain a private world for her children.
- Follow the Transition: To see how political families adapt, watch their real estate moves. The transition from a $300k Wisconsin home to a $1.2M Virginia estate tells the whole story of their career trajectory.