2026 Vermont gubernatorial election

2026 Vermont gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
 
Nominee Phil Scott Amanda Janoo
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Phil Scott
Republican


The 2026 Vermont gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Vermont. Republican incumbent Phil Scott is seeking a sixth two-year term. He is being challenged by Democratic economist Amanda Janoo. Primary elections were held on August 11, 2026.[1]

Along with neighboring New Hampshire, this is one of two Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election, and the only Republican-held governorship in a state that Harris won by a double-digit margin.

Background

In November 2024, Governor Phil Scott won re-election in a landslide, and was able to break Democratic supermajorities in the Vermont Senate and Vermont General Assembly, and flip the office of lieutenant governor.[2][3] That is despite the fact that Vermont is a deeply blue state at the federal and state levels otherwise.[4]

According to the polling company Morning Consult, Scott is the most popular state governor in the entire nation.[5] He has won re-election four times by increasingly wider margins since he was first elected in 2016.[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Results

Republican primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil Scott (incumbent) 21,466 98.5
Write-in 333 1.5
Total votes 21,799 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Amanda Janoo, economist[10]

Eliminated in primary

  • Aly Richards, former lobbying group CEO[11]

Did not file

Declined

Endorsements

Amanda Janoo
Statewide officials
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations
Political parties
Aly Richards
Executive branch officials
Statewide officials
Labor unions

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Amanda
Janoo		 Aly
Richards		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[21] July 15–20, 2026 560 (LV) ± 4.1% 26% 19% 3%[b] 52%
University of New Hampshire[22] June 18–23, 2026 511 (LV) ± 4.3% 20% 12% 3%[b] 64%

Results

Democratic primary results[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Amanda Janoo 39,614 49.1
Democratic Aly Richards 37,570 46.6
Write-in 3,502 4.3
Total votes 80,686 100.0

Third party candidates

Freedom and Unity Party

Declared

  • Dean Roy, high school student and former legislative page[23][24]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[25] Solid R September 11, 2025
Fox News[26] Solid R July 23, 2026
Inside Elections[27] Solid R August 28, 2025
Race to the WH[28] Safe R June 19, 2026
RealClearPolitics[29] Solid R June 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[30] Safe R May 28, 2026
Silver Bulletin[31] Likely R August 25, 2026

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Phil
Scott (R)		 Amanda
Janoo (D)		 Other Undecided
August 11, 2026 Primary elections
University of New Hampshire[21] July 15–20, 2026 954 (LV) ± 3.2% 44% 33% 6%[c] 17%
University of New Hampshire[22] June 18–23, 2026 887 (LV) ± 3.3% 42% 27% 5%[d] 26%
Hypothetical polling

Phil Scott vs. Aly Richards

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Phil
Scott (R)		 Aly
Richards (D)		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[21] July 15–20, 2026 954 (LV) ± 3.2% 43% 35% 6%[e] 16%
University of New Hampshire[22] June 18–23, 2026 887 (LV) ± 3.3% 41% 25% 8%[f] 26%

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. 1 2 "Write in someone else" with 3%
  3. ↑ "Another candidate" with 3%; June Goodband with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%
  4. ↑ Dean Roy with 3%, June Goodband and "Write in someone else" at 1%
  5. ↑ "Another candidate" with 3%; June Goodband with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%
  6. ↑ June Goodband with 6%, Dean Roy and "Write in someone else" at 1%

References

  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. May 9, 2025. Archived from the original on May 23, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ↑ The Blue State Where Republicans Scored Their Biggest Gains, Governing, November 14, 2024
  3. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (January 9, 2025). "Republican John Rodgers formally elected Vermont's next lieutenant governor".
  4. ↑ Lewis, Martin W. (December 9, 2022). "The Vermont Paradox: A Left-Wing State with a Remarkably Popular Republican Governor".
  5. ↑ "U.S. Governor Approval Rating Tracker". Morning Consult Pro. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ Kinzel, Bob (August 10, 2022). "It's primary day in Vermont. Why do voters there choose a governor every 2 years?". NPR. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Breen, Ben (May 28, 2026). "Phil Scott announces run for sixth term". MyChamplainValley. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (August 14, 2025). "Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas say they're running for reelection". VTDigger. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Vermont Election Night Results". Vermont Secretary of State. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ McCallum, Kevin (March 10, 2026). "Amanda Janoo Announces Bid for Vermont Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (April 6, 2026). "Aly Richards, former head of Let's Grow Kids, launches bid for Vermont governor". VTDigger. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ Roy, Chirstopher (May 13, 2026). "Coventry Resident Seeking Governor's Office". Seven Days. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ Breen, Ben (May 28, 2026). "Phil Scott announces run for sixth term". MyChamplainValley. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (October 14, 2025). "Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak hires top staffer from Rep. Becca Balint". VTDigger. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  15. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (May 4, 2026). "Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark launches reelection bid". VTDigger. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  16. ↑ Oliver, Charlotte (May 28, 2026). "Mike Pieciak runs again for treasurer — not governor". VTDigger. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Novak, Alison (July 29, 2026). "First-Time Candidates Richards, Janoo Vie to Take on Scott". Seven Days. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ "2026 Primary Endorsements for Vermont Statewide and State Senate and House Candidates". Sierra Club Vermont Chapter. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  19. ↑ "2026 Progressive endorsed Candidates". The Vermont Progressive Party. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Yoon, Robert (August 10, 2026). "AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Vermont's state primary". WDIV. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (July 21, 2026). "Vermont Divided on Scott's Job Performance as VT Dems Undecided on Candidate to Face Him". University of New Hampshire. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (June 30, 2026). "Scott Sees Job Approval Fall to New Low in Vermont But Holds Early Lead Over Prospective DEM Challengers". UNH Scholars Repository. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Stowe teen preps for gubernatorial race". VTDigger. July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Stowe Middle Schooler selected as legislative page". Stowe Reporter. November 21, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  25. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Fox News Power Rankings: The top races to watch as 36 states choose their next governor". Fox News. Rémy Numa. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  29. ↑ "2026 Governor Races | RealClearPolitics". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  30. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  31. ↑ Silver, Nate (August 20, 2026). "FLIPR 2026 midterm election forecast". www.natesilver.net. Retrieved August 20, 2026.

Official campaign websites

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