Op-Ed: Will Democrats help elect Gov. Scott again?

October 13, 2026

It’s been no secret that Gov. Phil Scott has benefited greatly during his time as our governor from the support he has received from mainstream, moderate Democrats.

The mass exodus of Democratic Party loyalists has been key to his overwhelming victories. Given the lack of electable candidates promoted by the state’s Democratic leadership and major donors, it’s no surprise that Scott has cruised to victory in our heavily Democratic leaning state.  

However, that history should change this fall. The Democrats now have a highly qualified candidate, Amanda Janoo. At the recent Unity Rally held immediately following the August primary, State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Lieutenant Governor candidate Molly Gray, State Auditor candidate Tim Ashe, and Attorney General Charity Clark joined Janoo and pledged their support to defeat Republicans and Scott on Nov. 3.

Equally important, Aly Richards, the traditional Democratic mainstream candidate for governor defeated in the primary, has joined the support for Janoo. This statewide unity from key leaders in our state government is a welcome change. Many legislators will show support for Janoo after the summer break. U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, Sens. Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders are there as well.

As a trained and experienced economist, Janoo understands that prosperity should come from investing in the people, businesses, farms and communities already here, and by an economy where more wealth created in Vermont stays here, where it is shared more broadly. As she has stated, “Vermont has the skilled workers, innovative entrepreneurs, family farmers, extraordinary teachers, health care providers, artists, local business, and communities that know how to care for one another.”

Will the moderate, mainstream Democratic voters now get out and vote for their party’s candidate? They should. 

Previous Democratic Party candidates were all fine individuals with interesting campaigns, but none were ever in a strong position to unseat Gov. Scott.  

Further, the big party donors have remained in the background, indirectly supporting Scott’s perceived mainstream and moderate candidacy. Will they step up this year and join the active leaders in the state’s Democratic Party and provide financial support?  They should as well, keeping in mind Janoo’s campaign policy of not accepting contributions over $5,000 and not taking donations from PACs.

Gov. Scott is much more vulnerable in 2026. He’s been the safe, cautious governor, managing when needed. But managing a situation, however successful, is not leadership, and we desperately need a stronger voice for change. 2026 is no longer a time for moderation and playing it safe in Vermont. Our hospital network is collapsing, schools are closing, and allowing AI data centers to dominate our landscape will not solve our immediate problems. We have too many pressing issues to address and Janoo gives us a bold and clear pathway forward.

Scott’s veto record (50!) is yet another stark illustration of playing it safe. Instead of working alongside House and Senate members to help craft acceptable legislation, he’s been risk-averse, unwilling to engage in the complicated and often contentious discussion where the work gets done: in the conference committee rooms.  

That’s not the type of bold leadership Vermont needs. Nor is the tiresome claim of affordability and higher taxes as a ruse to lure “fiscally conservative” Democrats into his camp. 

Democrats generally support reproductive rights, stricter gun safety, action on the climate crisis, improving our public school system, maintaining Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and most did not vote for President Trump. They need to now join Janoo’s vision of fair and responsible tax reform, and stop using “fiscally conservative” rhetoric as an excuse to vote for Gov. Scott again.

Janoo has proposed a 2% income tax surcharge on household incomes over $250,000 and an 8% surcharge on incomes above $500,000, which represents only 10% of all Vermonters. That’s fair and reasonable. These Vermonters can afford this modest increase, and they will not leave our state, despite what some claim.  

She has also proposed imposing higher taxes on second homes, short-term rentals, and properties owned by out-of-state private equity companies. That’s not safe or moderate, but it is what’s needed in Vermont, and will add millions of dollars to help fund essential services, like day care and health care benefits. That’s an example of bold, responsible leadership.

Under Gov. Scott, we have been operating under the mythical playbook that we can grow our way into prosperity, and that prosperity comes from attracting more people to Vermont, and more investment from somewhere else. This has resulted in too much out-of-state profiteering, robbing Vermonters of affordable housing, and fragmenting our communities.

Senate Minority Leader Republican Scott Beck said it best: “Amanda’s election provides a clear contrast in the November election.” He’s right. We can do better than business as usual under a sixth term of Gov. Scott with his safe, rudderless management, the same tiresome, outdated fears about higher taxes, and more vetoes of popular legislation.

Unseating an incumbent is never easy, but Democrats – especially those who have seen the governor as their choice during the past four elections – now appear poised to return to their party’s candidate. 

Amanda Janoo is unlike any other Democratic gubernatorial candidate we’ve seen in a decade. She understands what our state needs to do to move forward economically, environmentally, and socially. Democrats must now see her as mainstream, representing the values of Vermonters, and vote for Janoo in 2026.

John Bossange is a resident of South Burlington.