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August 12, 2026Politics

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Vermont Democrats nominate economist Amanda Janoo to challenge incumbent GOP Gov. Phil Scott in November

Shared facts · Agreed across sources

Economist Amanda Janoo won the Vermont Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, defeating former child advocacy CEO Aly Richards to become the party's nominee. She will face Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary, in the November general election. Scott is seeking a sixth two-year term as governor of Vermont.

1 source

Single source · Not corroborated

Photo: Amanda Janoo wins Vermont's Democratic primary to face Phil Scott · via Fox News
Janoo wins primary
Richards backed by Dean & Kunin

Economist Amanda Janoo secured the Vermont Democratic gubernatorial nomination Tuesday, defeating Aly Richards, a former child advocacy organization CEO who had the backing of former Democratic Governors Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin, according to the Associated Press as cited by Fox News.

Scott at 73% in 2024
Would pass Dean record

Scott, who won his 2024 re-election with 73% of the vote — up from 69% in his 2022 victory — ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. If he wins in November and completes a full term, Fox News reported he would surpass Howard Dean as Vermont's longest-serving governor.

2-year terms: VT & NH only
6th Dem challenge to Scott

Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire are the only two states in the country that elect governors to two-year terms, according to Fox News. Scott has held the office across five such cycles, making Tuesday's contest the sixth consecutive Democratic attempt to unseat him.