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.The Blue State Where Republicans Scored Their Biggest Gains, Governing, November 14, 2024 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 Phil Scott, incumbent governor (2017–present)
Declined John S. Rodgers, lieutenant governor of Vermont (2025–present) (running for re-election)
Results
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 Charity Clark, Vermont attorney general (2023–present) (running for re-election) Mike Pieciak, Vermont state treasurer (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize MarginAmandaJanooAlyRichards Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJuly 15–20, 2026560 (LV)± 4.1%26%19%3%52%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026511 (LV)± 4.3%20%12%3%64%
Results
Independent and third party candidates Declared June Goodband (Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party), counselor and candidate for governor in 2024 Brian Judd (Independent) Dean Roy (Freedom and Unity Party), high school student and former legislative page
General election Campaign While Scott historically won elections by landslide margins, 2026 was shaping up to be a much more competitive race. Scott was outraised by Janoo in September 2026. Additionally, the race became the most competitive race in a decade. Phil Scott vetoing progressive bills was cited as a factor to his decline in crossover support. Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 11, 2025Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsOctober 6, 2026Inside ElectionsAugust 28, 2025RealClearPoliticsSeptember 25, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 29, 2026Silver BulletinOctober 3, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorPhilScott (R)AmandaJanoo (D) Other UndecidedState NavigateOctober 2–4, 2026948 (LV)± 3.2%46%43%4%8%Braun Research/Vermont PublicSeptember 10–21, 2026817 (RV)± 3.4%42%32%6%20%737 (LV)44%34%5%16%University of New HampshireSeptember 17–21, 2026829 (LV)± 3.3%43%49%2%6%August 11, 2026 Primary electionsUniversity of New HampshireJuly 15–20, 2026954 (LV)± 3.2%44%33%6%17%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026887 (LV)± 3.3%42%27%5%26%
Phil Scott vs. Aly Richards Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorPhilScott (R)AlyRichards (D) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJuly 15–20, 2026954 (LV)± 3.2%43%35%6%16%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026887 (LV)± 3.3%41%25%8%26%
See also 2026 United States elections 2026 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites Amanda Janoo (D) Dean Roy (FUP) Phil Scott (R)