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. Primary elections will take place 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

Presumptive nominee

Declined

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Amanda Janoo, economist[9]
  • Aly Richards, former lobbying group CEO[10]

Did not file

Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Amanda
Janoo		 Aly
Richards		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[16] June 18–23, 2026 511 (LV) ± 4.3% 20% 12% 3%[b] 64%


Third party candidates

Freedom and Unity Party

Declared

  • Dean Roy, high school student and former legislative page[17][18]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[19] Solid R August 28, 2025
Race to the WH[20] Safe R June 19, 2026
RealClearPolitics[21] Solid R June 5, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] Safe R May 28, 2026
The Cook Political Report[23] Solid R September 11, 2025

Polling

Amanda Janoo vs. Phil Scott
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Amanda
Janoo (D)		 Phil
Scott (R)		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[16] June 18–23, 2026 887 (LV) ± 3.3% 27% 42% 5%[c] 26%
Aly Richards vs. Phil Scott
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Aly
Richards (D)		 Phil
Scott (R)		 Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[16] June 18–23, 2026 887 (LV) ± 3.3% 25% 41% 8%[d] 26%

See also

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. ↑ McCallum, Kevin (March 10, 2026). "Amanda Janoo Announces Bid for Vermont Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (April 6, 2026). "Aly Richards, former head of Let's Grow Kids, launches bid for Vermont governor". VTDigger. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ Roy, Chirstopher (May 13, 2026). "Coventry Resident Seeking Governor's Office". Seven Days. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  12. ↑ Breen, Ben (May 28, 2026). "Phil Scott announces run for sixth term". MyChamplainValley. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  13. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (October 14, 2025). "Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak hires top staffer from Rep. Becca Balint". VTDigger. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ Robinson, Shaun (May 4, 2026). "Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark launches reelection bid". VTDigger. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  15. ↑ Oliver, Charlotte (May 28, 2026). "Mike Pieciak runs again for treasurer — not governor". VTDigger. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  16. 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.
  17. ↑ "Stowe teen preps for gubernatorial race". VTDigger. July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Stowe Middle Schooler selected as legislative page". Stowe Reporter. November 21, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2026 Governor Races | RealClearPolitics". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  22. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  23. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.

Notes

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

Official campaign websites

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Vermont_gubernatorial_election