'Did Joe Biden drop out?' Google searches spiked in key states on Election Day

LOS ANGELES - On Election Day, many Americans appeared to be surprised by President Joe Biden’s absence from the 2024 ballot, despite his withdrawal from the race months earlier. 

Google searches for "Did Joe Biden drop out?" saw a notable spike, particularly in urban areas and key states such as Pennsylvania, Washington, and North Carolina, where interest in his candidacy appeared strongest.

Why Biden wasn’t on the ballot in 2024

Biden announced his decision to step aside on July 21, officially endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee following a debate performance in June that prompted questions about his ability to compete against Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

The decision was widely publicized, but search data suggests that a significant number of voters were still unclear about Biden’s candidacy as they headed to the polls.

Google searches for Biden’s candidacy surged on Election Day

Though Google has not released the exact number of queries, the trend spiking on Election Day highlights a disconnect for some Americans in the lead-up to the election. 

Many supporters were left confused, with searches peaking in Pennsylvania’s urban centers and spreading state by state as the day continued.

How Biden’s exit shaped the Democratic race

Analysts suggest Biden’s influence as a former candidate and incumbent president likely contributed to the lingering uncertainty, making his absence on the ballot a point of surprise. 

For many, Biden’s endorsement of Harris marked a significant shift, but the data suggests that voters may not have been fully aware of the change until Election Day.