Life

What Political Topics Does Each State Search Most?

by Eliza Castile

Oct. 1, 2015

The things we Google speak volumes about the Googler — for instance, I frantically searched the phrase "how to un-burn pasta" last night, which I believe says quite a bit about my culinary expertise. It's always informative (and usually hilarious) to see what we ask the Internet when nobody's looking, which is what led real estate site Estately to compile a list earlier this week of the political topics each state Googles the most. Who knew people still cared about what Dick Cheney is up to?

Using Google Trends, Estately analyzed the most popular political Google searches in each state, from individual candidates to issues like Planned Parenthood. If you have even a passing familiarity with U.S. politics, it won't exactly come as a surprise to hear that the results were somewhat of a mixed bag — in fact, they're exactly like if someone scribbled down a bunch of current political topics, stuck them in an actual bag, and assigned them at random. There are some trends, of course: Apparently, Texans spend quite a bit of time looking up gun control and the Bill of Rights, and "Kim Davis" is Kentucky's most Googled topic.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the report doesn't analyze the reasoning behind each state's Google searches. It's an easy joke to claim that Georgia's obsession with states' rights stems from a crazed right-wing population, but that doesn't account for the pack of raging liberals found in Atlanta. It's a fun list, but let's not go making any larger assumptions about state politics.

OK, now let's get to the good stuff. Here are my 13 favorite topics:

1. Alabama: Same-Sex Marriage

I obviously had to start with this one; I think Alabama residents were as surprised as the rest of the country when the state's same-sex marriage ban was overturned earlier this year.

2. California: Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood has had a rough time of it lately, but that hasn't stopped California Senator Barbara Boxer from doing her best to defend the organization.

3. Colorado: Political Correctness

Gold star for Colorado.

4. Delaware: AARP

Did you know Delaware is full of old people? Neither did I, until today. The more you know.

5. Georgia: Obama Meme

In our defense, Obama memes can be pretty funny.

6. Illinois: Minimum Wage Increase

Although the statewide minimum wage is currently $8.25, Chicago recently increased its minimum wage to $10. Huzzah!

7. Indiana: Communism, Freedom of Religion, Monarchy

None of these are particularly noteworthy on their own, but taken together, they lead me to believe that Indiana might need a little refresher on the basics of government.