The term “Arlington Way” is commonly used to describe the county’s non-partisan, cooperative political culture. Its history is rooted in the 1930s and 1940s, when Arlington’s local politics shifted away from partisan battles to a non-partisan system, fostering a collaborative and consensus-driven approach to governance that continues today. This cooperative spirit, often seen in the non-partisan elections and the focus on the “missing middle” of housing, is a hallmark of the “Arlington Way”.


