Vermont Democrats Nominate New Challenger for Republican Gov. Phil Scott

Democrats in Vermont have chosen a new nominee to challenge the popular Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Economist Amanda Janoo defeated Aly Richards, a former child advocacy organization CEO, to secure the Democratic nomination. Richards had support from former Democratic Governors Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin.

This election marks the Democrats’ sixth attempt to unseat Gov. Scott. Scott, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, is seeking a sixth two-year term as governor. If he wins and completes another term, he will surpass Howard Dean as the longest-serving governor in the northern New England state. Vermont and New Hampshire are unique in the United States for electing governors every two years.

Gov. Scott, known for his moderate stance, is a critic of former President Donald Trump. He endorsed Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries and supported Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump in the general election of that year.

The task ahead for Democrats is challenging, given the governor’s widespread popularity. Scott secured a significant 73% of the vote in the 2024 election, improving on his 69% win in 2022.

Gov. Scott recently proposed an $8.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2025, urging legislators not to raise taxes or fees.