As the 2026 election season begins, Moderately MOCO is outlining our approach to campaign coverage to ensure transparency, fairness, and better access to information for Montgomery County voters and candidates alike.

2026 Campaign Coverage – At a Glance

• No endorsements this election cycle
• Equal advertising access for all candidates
• Advertising revenue reinvested into expanding coverage and strengthening local reporting
• One FREE written submission per candidate (press release, campaign overview, or priorities statement)
• Informational social media coverage based on relevance
• AI voter guidance tool coming soon, including shareable endorsement graphics

Read on for more details.

What to Expect This Election Season

No Endorsements

Moderately MOCO will not endorse candidates during this election cycle.

Our role is to provide information, context, and access to perspectives from across the community so voters can reach their own conclusions.

Equal Advertising Opportunities

We will accept political advertisements at the same rate for all candidates and political organizations across our platforms, reaching more than 24,000 local followers and subscribers through our website, email newsletters, and social media channels.

Advertising does not influence editorial decisions, and no preferential treatment will be given to advertisers.

Revenue generated from political advertising will be reinvested into improving our platform, expanding coverage, developing new tools for our audience, and strengthening local reporting across Montgomery County.

For advertising information, candidates and organizations may contact us directly.

One Candidate Submission Per Campaign

Each candidate may submit one written piece for publication on our website.

This may be a traditional press release, a campaign overview, a statement of priorities, or another informational piece that helps voters better understand the candidate’s background and positions.

Submissions must be informational in nature and comply with our formatting and content guidelines. This ensures equal baseline visibility and a fair opportunity for every campaign to communicate directly with voters.

Submission guidelines will be provided upon request and candidates can contact us for more information.

Select Informational Social Media Coverage

Throughout the campaign season, Moderately MOCO may share campaign announcements, policy updates, community events, or other information we believe is relevant or informative to our audience.

Sharing content does not constitute an endorsement.

Editorial decisions will continue to be guided by audience relevance and newsworthiness.

AI Voter Guidance Tool + Shareable Endorsement Builder (Coming Soon)

Later this election season, we will launch an AI-powered voter guidance tool supported by a structured candidate information database.

Voters will be able to:

• Answer open-ended and structured questions about issues and priorities
• Receive AI-generated guidance suggesting candidates whose positions most closely align with their responses
• Generate personalized, shareable social media graphics highlighting their preferred candidates

The tool is designed to inform and empower voters. Final decisions always belong to the individual voter.

A Commitment to Community Transparency

Local elections shape everyday life in Montgomery County, from schools and transportation to housing, small businesses, and community services.

Moderately MOCO’s role is not to steer outcomes, but to strengthen the information ecosystem around them. We believe a well-informed community is a stronger community.

As our audience continues to grow, we are committed to building lasting civic infrastructure – expanding coverage, developing innovative tools, and investing in reporting that helps residents engage with local government more confidently and more clearly.

This campaign cycle is an opportunity to continue building a trusted platform that serves Montgomery County year after year.