Vermonters face potential 64-year gubernatorial upset on Election Day

Vermont voters cast ballots on Tuesday, November 3, in a contest that could end a six-decade streak of incumbent victories for the state's highest office.

Democratic and Progressive nominee Amanda Janoo has positioned herself as a viable challenger to Republican Governor Phil Scott. Current polling data suggests she has a realistic chance of becoming the first candidate to unseat a sitting governor in Vermont since 1962.

Janoo, an economist based in Burlington, has campaigned statewide since securing her nomination in August. Her platform focuses on the state's affordability crisis and proposes a universal primary care system. Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed her campaign and appeared with her last month to support these proposals.

Governor Scott, seeking a sixth two-year term, has campaigned on a steady management platform. He has characterized Janoo as inexperienced and overly idealistic. The Republican Governors Association contributed nearly $1 million to a political action committee that has aired television and online advertisements criticizing Janoo's record.

The race for lieutenant governor is also closely contested. Democrat Molly Gray is attempting to reclaim the position she previously held. She faces incumbent John Rodgers, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Rodgers has led a final push of attacks against Gray in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Approximately 140,000 voters submitted their ballots early in the week leading up to Election Day. The remaining voters can cast ballots at polling places between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The ballot also includes 180 seats in the state legislature. One notable contest in the Orange-Caledonia House district features an 18-year-old Democrat, Aiden Otterman, running against his 69-year-old Republican great-uncle, Tom Otterman. Susan Culp, the Newbury Selectboard chair and a 54-year-old independent, is also seeking the same seat. Numerous candidates are also running for justice of the peace positions.