Story perspectives

Amanda Janoo Wins Vermont Democratic Primary, Defeats Aly Richards

8/12/2026

Summary

Amanda Janoo Wins

Amanda Janoo (Democratic gubernatorial candidate) won the Vermont primary with 49.2% of the vote, beating Aly Richards (Democratic candidate) who received 46.5%.
Phil Scott (Republican governor) leads Amanda Janoo 44% to 33% in a July UNH poll and has a 48% approval rating with a net +5.
Time for a Change spent $200,000 on ads for Aly Richards (Democratic candidate), who nevertheless lost the primary.

Summary

Richards Leads Fundraising

Richards' campaign raised $453,000 by late July, about twice Janoo's $308,000, showing a fundraising gap.
Janoo, an economist, is centering her campaign on affordability and housing policy proposals.
Richards, former CEO of a child-advocacy group, brings social-service experience to the Democratic primary.
Gov. Phil Scott, a moderate Republican, voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024 and for President Joe Biden in 2020, and could become the longest-serving governor if re-elected.

History

Historical Context

Howard Dean, Democrat governor since 1991, won the 1998 election and was re-elected in 2000 as civil-union reforms sparked the “Take Back Vermont” backlash. When Dean left office in 2002, Republican Jim Douglas captured the governorship by a 2.56% margin (just under 6,000 votes) and held it. That swing frames today’s Democratic primary of Amanda Janoo vs Aly Richards and incumbent Republican Phil Scott.

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Amanda Janoo Wins

Amanda Janoo (Democratic gubernatorial candidate) won the Vermont primary with 49.2% of the vote, beating Aly Richards (Democratic candidate) who received 46.5%.
Phil Scott (Republican governor) leads Amanda Janoo 44% to 33% in a July UNH poll and has a 48% approval rating with a net +5.
Time for a Change spent $200,000 on ads for Aly Richards (Democratic candidate), who nevertheless lost the primary.

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