Google Searches for “Gary Johnson” and “Libertarian Party” Skyrocket

by Daniel Stephens

Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson has been making headlines recently with a series of media appearances and campaign ads designed to draw a sharp contrast between himself and the two major-party candidates. With Trump and Clinton both involved in multiple scandals and campaign mishaps, voters have become increasingly interested in a third-party option — and more specifically in the candidacy of the former two-term governor. Google search results for Johnson have doubled since his last presidential attempt in 2012 and are still climbing.

Search interest in the Libertarian Party is also spiking at present, but has not yet reached the highs achieved during the 2004 candidacy of Michael J. Badnarik. This benchmark, however, could easily be surpassed in the coming weeks. Google queries for the porcupine party this year have already equaled the last two election cycles combined — and still have room to grow. Data also suggests that voters seem to be thirsty for an intellectual foundation on which to stand behind their candidate — as searches regarding the political philosophy of libertarianism are tracking similarly to interest in the party itself. This suggests that people may be interested in the ideas of liberty and not just simply any alternative to Trump or Clinton.

Is this a sign that Gary Johnson and the Libertarian Party are on the cusp of a breakthrough in U.S. presidential politics? Let us know your thoughts on the implications of these trending searches on Facebook or in the comments below.