3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Phil Scott currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Affordability reforms, which he has made the theme of recent terms.
Education reform focused on school district consolidation to control costs.
Holding down property taxes; he vetoed 2024 legislation to increase them.
Restraint on health insurance regulation; he vetoed a 2026 bill to fast-track reference-based pricing for some plans.
Fiscal caution against new spending programmes.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Governor of Vermont since January 2017; lieutenant governor 2011-2017; state senator before that; former construction company owner and stock car racer.
Won more than 70% of the general election vote in 2024.
Rated the most popular governor in the country by Morning Consult.
In June 2024 the legislature overrode six of his vetoes in one day, including bills to increase property taxes, amend the land use law and revise renewable energy standards.
Democrats lost their veto-proof supermajority in 2024, leaving his vetoes harder to override.
Vetoed the legislature's most notable 2026 health care reform bill, on reference-based hospital pricing.
Won the August 11 2026 Republican primary with about 98.5%.
Had raised about $63,000 with $200,000 on hand as of early September 2026, less than his opponent.
Arguments in favor
He has won Vermont repeatedly by large margins as a Republican in a Democratic state, and is rated the most popular governor in the country.
— Phil Scott for Governor campaign, citing Morning Consult
He has held the line on property taxes and new spending against Democratic legislative majorities, using the veto where necessary.
— Phil Scott for Governor campaign
Voters who want 'common sense fiscal responsibility' rather than progressive leadership have a candidate in him — including independents and Democrats.
— Paul Dame, Vermont Republican Party chair
Arguments against
'From an economic perspective, Phil Scott has been talking about affordability for almost a decade now, and it really hasn't materialized.'
— Amanda Janoo, Democratic nominee
His school consolidation plan 'is a solution to the wrong problem' — 'the driver of our costs is health care,' not the number of school districts.
— Amanda Janoo, Democratic nominee
He vetoed the legislature's main 2026 health care cost reform, on reference-based hospital pricing, in a state where health costs are the central affordability problem.
— Vermont Public reporting on the June 2026 veto
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
His specific sixth-term agenda beyond continued affordability reform.
His response to Janoo's health care cost argument could not be located.
Whether his large fundraising deficit reflects a low-key campaign or a shift in the race.
Publicly funded universal primary and preventative care, estimated at more than $300 million a year, as a foundation for a universal health care system, and bringing small-town doctors back to Vermont communities.
Funding it through surcharges on household income above $250,000 and steep tax increases on second homes and short-term rentals.
Rejecting forced school consolidation, on the argument that health care is the real cost driver in the education budget.
Permanently affordable housing that 'keeps homes in Vermonters' hands.'
A different economic approach: 'We can keep trying the same thing, you know? But I do think it's worth maybe trying a different economic approach that might keep more wealth circulating here.'
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Economist; worked internationally for the United Nations; founder of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont.
First-time candidate for office; announced her campaign in March 2026.
Won the August 11 2026 Democratic primary with about 49.1% (39,614 votes) to Aly Richards's 46.6% (37,570).
Endorsed by the Vermont Progressive Party, labour unions and environmental groups.
Had raised about $415,000 by early September 2026, outraising the incumbent.
Arguments in favor
Her health care plan is the most concrete offer in the race — publicly funded primary and preventative care, with a named funding source in surcharges on incomes above $250,000 and on second homes and short-term rentals.
— Amanda Janoo for Governor campaign
She argues the education debate has the wrong target: consolidation does not touch health care, which is what actually drives school and state costs up.
— Amanda Janoo, Democratic nominee
She is an economist and a political outsider, and has already outraised a five-term incumbent — 'a vote for change over credentials.'
— Addison Independent editorial endorsing her
Arguments against
The campaign promises that were assets in the primary 'will be a liability in the general election' — 'there are just as many, if not more, independents and Democrats who really want to see the progressive influence on leadership of the Democratic Party pushed back.'
— Paul Dame, Vermont Republican Party chair
Her universal primary care programme would cost more than $300 million a year and rests on new income surcharges and property taxes in a state already fighting over affordability.
— Vermont Republican Party, as reported by Vermont Public
She has never held elected office and won her own primary by fewer than three points, against an incumbent who took more than 70% of the vote two years ago.
— Vermont Republican Party
What we couldn’t verify
Her official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
How a universal primary care system would be built administratively, and on what timeline.
Her positions on public safety and on Vermont's Act 250 land use law could not be established from a source read directly.
The third argument against is drawn from general party framing rather than a quoted statement.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Republican incumbent Phil Scott is seeking a sixth two-year term; Vermont governors serve two-year terms. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, VTDigger, Vermont Public, the Boston Globe, WCAX and the Washington Post, cross-checked. In the August 11 2026 primaries, Scott won the Republican nomination with about 98.5%, and economist Amanda Janoo narrowly won the Democratic nomination with about 49.1% (39,614 votes) to Aly Richards's 46.6% (37,570). The Vermont Progressive Party endorsed Janoo rather than running its own candidate, so she carries that support without a separate Progressive line being identified. Dean Roy, a high school student and former legislative page, is on the ballot for the Freedom and Unity Party; he is listed with empty argument sections, as no organised advocacy for him and no criticism of him by name could be found. Scott won more than 70% of the vote in 2024 and Morning Consult has rated him the most popular governor in the country, but Janoo has outraised him — about $415,000 to his roughly $63,000 raised and $200,000 on hand as of early September 2026.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Vermont ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.