Amanda Janoo Wins Vermont Primary With 49% as Progressive Newcomer Tops PAC-Backed Rival
Updated
Updated · VTDigger · Aug 12
Amanda Janoo Wins Vermont Primary With 49% as Progressive Newcomer Tops PAC-Backed Rival
3 articles · Updated · VTDigger · Aug 12
Summary
49% of the vote gave Amanda Janoo a narrow Democratic primary win for Vermont governor, beating Aly Richards at 46% in the state’s most competitive race for the office in years.
Janoo, an economist who had never run for office, built her upset on an anti-establishment platform that pushed progressive changes, including taxing big tech ad revenue and adding a surcharge on income above $500,000.
More than $200,000 in late digital ads from a PAC supporting Richards failed to stop Janoo, whose supporters said her positions on healthcare, taxes and housing drove turnout.
Richards conceded around 11:30 p.m. and urged Democrats to unite behind Janoo, who now faces Republican Gov. Phil Scott, an incumbent with broad cross-party appeal despite some recent slippage in approval.
Can an internationally experienced economist's novel wellbeing vision disrupt a popular incumbent's path to becoming Vermont's longest-serving governor?