Who is Amanda Janoo and what is Janoo running on in the 2026 Vermont Governor race?

Amanda Janoo is the Democratic candidate for Vermont governor. Economist from Burlington and first-time candidate; co-founder of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont; also on the ballot as the Progressive nominee. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Incumbent Phil Scott (R) seeking a sixth two-year term.
• Rating: Solid R (Cook, Sept 2025).
• Polling: Janoo 49, Scott 43 (UNH Green Mountain State Poll, Sept 17 to 21, 2026); earlier UNH July 15 to 20: Scott 44, Janoo 33.

Why Janoo is behind

• Scott has long incumbency and a personal brand separate from the national GOP; he won his last three general elections by 39+ points.
• But his approval fell to 47% (from 61% in Oct 2025) and the latest UNH poll flipped to Janoo +6, a 21-point swing since July, after Scott vetoed progressive legislation.
• Scott holds a cash-on-hand edge ($309K vs $59K on Sept 1) even though Janoo has outraised him with small donors.
• Scott’s campaign disputes the poll’s sample (60% Democrats) as ‘statistical malpractice’; markets priced Scott ~90% before that poll.

What Janoo is running on

• Taxes. Proposes a 2% surcharge on household income above $250,000 and 8% above $500,000.
• Healthcare. Wants publicly funded universal primary care paid for by taxes on high earners.
• Housing. Supports higher taxes on second homes, short-term rentals and private-equity-owned properties, and expanding affordable housing.
• Education. Opposes forced school mergers and closures; wants to protect small schools.
• Tech / AI. Proposes taxing tech companies’ digital advertising revenue and regulating large AI data centers.
• Campaign finance. Refuses corporate contributions; funded mostly by small donors.

In Janoo’s own words

“Vermonters are tired of a status quo that’s failing us. We’re looking for hope and leadership that believes in Vermont.”

“Vermonters want an economy that actually meets our needs, want communities where people can afford to stay, and want a healthcare system that cares for us.”

“We didn’t have the establishment for support, or big political kingmakers on our side. But we had something so much more powerful. We had you.”

The other candidates

• Phil Scott (R)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.