Introducing the Onion Ballot: A Guide for Free-Thinking Voters
Montgomery County elections are fueled by insider endorsements. From senior politicians to respected party elders, from unions to nonprofits, candidates seek out, and boast about, support from the establishment influencers who can mean the difference between winning and losing.
Today, we’re adding a new, independent voice to the mix: The Montgonion’s Onion Ballot.
For the past three years, the Montgonion has been poking, prodding, and parodying local government. But behind the satire is real homework: we follow the county's major policy initiatives and political issues, know the players, and track how power works in Rockville and beyond. Ridicule is our way of holding officials accountable, and it's given us a sharp, independent view of who actually serves the public and who just serves the machine.
Where We Stand Politically
We’re not Democrats. We’re not Republicans. If you need a label, think blue-dog Democrat or libertarian-leaning Republican — but mostly, we live in the missing middle. On some issues we lean progressive, on others conservative, but more often we’re the centrist voice that both major factions ignore. We don’t vote party lines; we vote our judgment.
Montgomery County has been controlled by one party for decades. That’s not healthy for a democracy, but we are pragmatic enough to accept it's not going to change. So we’re looking to elevate candidates who aren’t just machine insiders. We're attracted to those who can think independently, govern responsibly, and represent the many voters who feel politically homeless.
Following the Onion Ballot
The Onion Ballot is our living voter guide. Over the next several months, we’ll track every race that matters in Montgomery County: from County Executive and Council to Board of Education, Sheriff, and key Congressional races. We will also wade into some municipal contests. Here’s how it works:
Endorsements: We’ll highlight candidates we believe deserve support — those who demonstrate independence, competence, and the ability to serve people over party insiders.
Strikes: We’ll call out candidates we know we cannot recommend. Sometimes that’s because of bad governance, sometimes because of hostility to an open press, sometimes because they’re too tied to the political machine to offer real change.
We’ll build the ballot piece by piece. As races evolve, we’ll add names, move some to the “struck” list, and make early endorsements where it’s obvious. By the time early voting begins, you’ll have a fully built, independent guide to help cut through the noise.
Why the Onion Ballot Matters
The legendary Apple Ballot from the Montgomery County Education Association can practically decide an election. Unlike the Apple Ballot, the Onion Ballot is completely independent. We’re not a union. We’re not a party committee. We’re not looking for insider loyalty pledges. And nobody pays us a dime. We offer voters an unaligned, outsider-informed perspective that understands the county’s inner workings but isn’t beholden to them.
Our first group of endorsements drops Thursday morning. Stay tuned!
