Scott and Janoo Race to Finish Line in Final Days

The final week of the Vermont gubernatorial campaign has arrived. Amanda Janoo, the Democratic nominee, and incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott are locked in a tight race with Election Day approaching. A survey published on October 27 by State Navigate shows Scott leading Janoo by three points. The poll places Scott at 49 percent and Janoo at 46 percent, with three percent of voters undecided.

Janoo has spent her campaign running an unconventional grassroots operation. She launched her bid in March and has held large town halls, small community forums, and surprise appearances at local venues. Her campaign relies on a network of more than 1,500 volunteers who knock on doors and make phone calls. On Wednesday, she visited South Burlington High School with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Weingarten urged the crowd to choose a candidate who supports the working person’s agenda.

Scott has taken a more traditional approach as he seeks a sixth term. He has participated in honk-and-wave events and Halloween parades. On Thursday, he held a press conference at the Vermont Construction Academy in Winooski. He spoke about weatherizing homes for winter and the financial support available to residents. The event promoted practical topics that fit his background in construction and business.

The candidates shared a stage on Wednesday night for their third and final debate on WCAX-TV. The hour-long discussion covered affordability, health care, and education reform. Scott argued that Janoo’s proposals did not make financial sense. He stated that when one is governor, the math has to add up. He also claimed that some rural districts offer one or two foreign languages, whereas Winooski offers 17.

Winooski Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria disputed Scott’s claim. Chavarria said the district only teaches French because it lacks the funds for more. On Thursday, he emailed Education Secretary Zoie Saunders requesting a public retraction by the end of the day. He wrote that the statement stoked resentment about tax dollars funding special privileges.

By Friday morning, Scott had written a letter to Chavarria apologizing for the error. Scott said his administration is committed to establishing a fairer funding system for school districts. Chavarria said he is still seeking a public correction from the Scott administration.

Both candidates have packed schedules for the remaining days. Janoo will hold rallies in Bennington, Manchester, Rutland, White River Junction, Barre, Waterbury, and Williston on Sunday and Monday. Scott will volunteer at the Wheels 4 Warmth event on Saturday. On Monday, he will visit all 14 Vermont counties, starting in Berlin at 4:15 a.m. and ending in Milton at 6:30 p.m.

Early voting is already well underway. As of 9 a.m. on Friday, 139,566 voters had turned in their ballots, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s office.