2026 Vermont gubernatorial election

2026 Vermont gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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Nominee Phil Scott Amanda Janoo
Party Republican Democratic
Alliance Progressive
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.

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. That is despite the fact that Vermont is a deeply blue state at the federal and state levels otherwise.

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

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Results

Republican primary results
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

Eliminated in primary

  • Aly Richards, former lobbying group CEO

Did not file

  • Jeffrey Wilson, Coventry Emergency Management Director

Declined

Endorsements

Amanda Janoo
U.S. senators
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		 Margin
of error		 Amanda
Janoo		 Aly
Richards		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire July 15–20, 2026 560 (LV) ± 4.1% 26% 19% 3% 52%
University of New Hampshire June 18–23, 2026 511 (LV) ± 4.3% 20% 12% 3% 64%

Results

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Amanda Janoo 39,614 49.1
Democratic Aly Richards 37,570 46.6
Write-in 3,509 4.3
Total votes 80,693 100.0

Independent and third party candidates

Declared

General election

Campaign

While Scott has historically won elections by landslide margins, the 2026 election has been shaping up to be a much more competitive race. Scott was outraised by Janoo in September 2026, and Scott's vetoing of progressive bills was cited as a factor to his decline in crossover support.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Likely R October 13, 2026
Decision Desk HQ Likely R October 11, 2026
Fox News Likely R October 6, 2026
Inside Elections Likely R October 15, 2026
RealClearPolitics Lean R October 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball Likely R October 6, 2026
Silver Bulletin Lean R October 13, 2026

Post-primary endorsements

Amanda Janoo (D)
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Phil
Scott (R)		 Amanda
Janoo (D)		 Other Undecided
State Navigate October 2–4, 2026 948 (LV) ± 3.2% 46% 43% 4% 8%
Braun Research/Vermont Public September 10–21, 2026 817 (RV) ± 3.4% 42% 32% 6% 20%
737 (LV) 44% 34% 5% 16%
University of New Hampshire September 17–21, 2026 829 (LV) ± 3.3% 43% 49% 2% 6%
August 11, 2026 Primary elections
University of New Hampshire July 15–20, 2026 954 (LV) ± 3.2% 44% 33% 6% 17%
University of New Hampshire June 18–23, 2026 887 (LV) ± 3.3% 42% 27% 5% 26%
Hypothetical polling

Phil Scott vs. Aly Richards

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin
of error		 Phil
Scott (R)		 Aly
Richards (D)		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire July 15–20, 2026 954 (LV) ± 3.2% 43% 35% 6% 16%
University of New Hampshire June 18–23, 2026 887 (LV) ± 3.3% 41% 25% 8% 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. ↑ "None/Write-in/Other" with 3%; Brian Judd with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%; June Goodband with 0%
  4. ↑ "None/Write-in/Other" with 2%; Brian Judd with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%; June Goodband with 0%
  5. ↑ Brian Judd with 2%
  6. ↑ "Another candidate" with 3%; June Goodband with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%
  7. ↑ Dean Roy with 3%, June Goodband and "Write in someone else" at 1%
  8. ↑ "Another candidate" with 3%; June Goodband with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%
  9. ↑ 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 9 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. 1 2 "General Election Candidates". Vermont Secretary of State. May 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Stowe teen preps for gubernatorial race". VTDigger. July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Stowe Middle Schooler selected as legislative page". Stowe Reporter. November 21, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Janoo Outraised Gov. Scott in September, Disclosures Show". Seven News Vermont. October 2, 2026. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Latest poll shows Gov. Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo in tightest race in a decade". VT Digger. September 25, 2026. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  28. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  29. ↑ "2026 Governor Forecast". Decision Desk HQ. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  30. ↑ Numa, Rémy (October 6, 2026). "Fox News Power Rankings: The biggest surprises come after October". Fox News. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
  32. ↑ "2026 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  33. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  34. ↑ Silver, Nate; McKown-Dawson, Eli (October 13, 2026) [August 11, 2026]. "FLIPR 2026 midterm election forecast". Silver Bulletin. Retrieved October 13, 2026 – via Substack.
  35. 1 2 3 Hirschfeld, Peter (October 7, 2026). "Bernie Sanders endorses Amanda Janoo for Vermont governor". Connecticut Public. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Vermont governor's race latest: Janoo picks up endorsements, Scott's confidence remains". NBC. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Scott narrowly leads Janoo as Gray opens a wide lead". State Navigate. October 7, 2026. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Vermont Public 2026 Poll: Full results". Vermont Public. September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  39. ↑ McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (September 24, 2026). "Partisan Headwinds Hamper Scott in Race With Janoo for Governor of Vermont". University of New Hampshire. Retrieved September 24, 2026.

Official campaign websites