2026 Vermont gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
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| Elections in Vermont |
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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
[edit]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
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Presumptive nominee
[edit]- Phil Scott, incumbent governor[7]
Declined
[edit]- John S. Rodgers, lieutenant governor of Vermont (2025-present) (running for re-election)[8]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]Did not file
[edit]Declined
[edit]- Charity Clark, Vermont attorney general (2023–present)[12][13] (running for re-election)[14]
- Mike Pieciak, Vermont state treasurer (2023–present)[15] (running for re-election)
Endorsements
[edit]- Political parties
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Amanda Janoo |
Aly Richards |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[17] | July 15–20, 2026 | 560 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 26% | 19% | 3%[b] | 52% |
| University of New Hampshire[18] | June 18–23, 2026 | 511 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 20% | 12% | 3%[b] | 64% |
Third party candidates
[edit]Freedom and Unity Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[21] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[22] | Safe R | June 19, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[23] | Solid R | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[24] | Safe R | May 28, 2026 |
| Fox News[25] | Solid R | July 23, 2026 |
| The Cook Political Report[26] | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |
Polling
[edit]Phil Scott vs. Amanda Janoo
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Phil Scott (R) |
Amanda Janoo (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[17] | July 15–20, 2026 | 954 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 44% | 33% | 6%[c] | 17% |
| University of New Hampshire[18] | June 18–23, 2026 | 887 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 42% | 27% | 5%[d] | 26% |
Phil Scott vs. Aly Richards
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Phil Scott (R) |
Aly Richards (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[17] | July 15–20, 2026 | 954 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 43% | 35% | 6%[e] | 16% |
| University of New Hampshire[18] | June 18–23, 2026 | 887 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 41% | 25% | 8%[f] | 26% |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "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.
- ↑ The Blue State Where Republicans Scored Their Biggest Gains, Governing, November 14, 2024
- ↑ Robinson, Shaun (January 9, 2025). "Republican John Rodgers formally elected Vermont's next lieutenant governor".
- ↑ Lewis, Martin W. (December 9, 2022). "The Vermont Paradox: A Left-Wing State with a Remarkably Popular Republican Governor".
- ↑ "U.S. Governor Approval Rating Tracker". Morning Consult Pro. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Breen, Ben (May 28, 2026). "Phil Scott announces run for sixth term". MyChamplainValley. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ McCallum, Kevin (March 10, 2026). "Amanda Janoo Announces Bid for Vermont Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Robinson, Shaun (April 6, 2026). "Aly Richards, former head of Let's Grow Kids, launches bid for Vermont governor". VTDigger. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ↑ Roy, Chirstopher (May 13, 2026). "Coventry Resident Seeking Governor's Office". Seven Days. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
- ↑ Breen, Ben (May 28, 2026). "Phil Scott announces run for sixth term". MyChamplainValley. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ Robinson, Shaun (October 14, 2025). "Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak hires top staffer from Rep. Becca Balint". VTDigger. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ↑ Robinson, Shaun (May 4, 2026). "Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark launches reelection bid". VTDigger. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
- ↑ Oliver, Charlotte (May 28, 2026). "Mike Pieciak runs again for treasurer — not governor". VTDigger. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Progressive endorsed Candidates". The Vermont Progressive Party. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (July 21, 2026). "Vermont Divided on Scott's Job Performance as VT Dems Undecided on Candidate to Face Him". University of New Hampshire. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- 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.
- ↑ "Stowe teen preps for gubernatorial race". VTDigger. July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Stowe Middle Schooler selected as legislative page". Stowe Reporter. November 21, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ↑ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Governor Races | RealClearPolitics". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Fox News Power Rankings: The top races to watch as 36 states choose their next governor". Fox News. Rémy Numa. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - 1 2 "Write in someone else" with 3%
- ↑ "Another candidate" with 4%; June Goodband with 2%; Dean Roy with 0%
- ↑ Dean Roy with 3%, June Goodband and "Write in someone else" at 1%
- ↑ "Another candidate" with 3%; June Goodband with 2%; Dean Roy with 1%
- ↑ June Goodband with 6%, Dean Roy and "Write in someone else" at 1%
External links
[edit]Official campaign websites