The race for governor heated up late Tuesday evening, as Janoo trailed closely behind Scott, and several races to determine representation for Upper Valley towns in the Vermont legislature were awaiting final results.
But some preliminary votes give a glimpse into voter preferences.
Governor- Phil Scott
The race for governor has been exceptionally close considering that Phil Scott, of Berlin, has been undefeated for the past five elections, but as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, newcomer Amanda Janoo trailed close behind with 46% of votes, based on the 80% of the statewide results counted.
Scott still had a narrow lead with 52% of the vote at 10 p.m. with 80% of the vote.
In 2024, his Democratic opponent, Esther Charlestin, of Middlebury, trailed behind with about 22% of the votes, while Scott had 78%. In 2022, Scott also defeated Democrat Brenda Siegel, of Newfane, with 71% of the vote.
Scott, despite being a Republican in a state with a largely Democratic legislature, has the highest approval rating, currently at 74%, of any governor in the U.S. based on polling by the Morning Consult.
Amanda Janoo, a Strafford native and current Burlington resident, stepped up to challenge Scott back in March when she launched her campaign.
A UNH poll and Nov. 1 announcement found that Janoo had a small lead over Scott, which has been unheard of across the five prior general election seasons.
Check back here for final results.
Vermont Senate- Major, White, Burrows
Based on 75% of the votes counted, Joe Major, Becca White and Elizabeth Burrows succeeded among seven Vermonters, five in the Upper Valley, who vied for one of the three Windsor District Senate seats.
The two incumbents, both Hartford residents, saw success in the polls as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, with Becca White bringing home most of the votes, 24%, and Joe Major close behind with 23%. Burrows earned 21% of the votes as of 10 p.m..
Democrat Elizabeth Burrows, of West Windsor, currently serves in the Vermont House, representing Windsor-1.
Democrat Allison Clarkson, of Woodstock, decided not to run for a sixth term in the Senate, opening up a space for one of the newcomers.
The other Upper Valley candidates included Burrows and Republicans Jack Williams and Andrea Murray, both of Weathersfield.
But they weren’t alone.
Independent Joe Izzo, of Springfield, and Republican Jonathan Gleason, of Ludlow, also took two places on the general election ballot.
Check back here for final results.
Vermont Senate- Priestley
Democrat/Progressive Monique Priestley prevailed over Republican incumbent John Benson, with 52% of the votes to Benson’s 48%, as of 10 p.m. with 68% counted.
Gov. Phil Scott appointed Benson to the seat back in January after former Senator Larry Hart resigned.
Priestley, of Bradford, has served in the Vermont House representing the Orange-2 District since 2023.
Check back here for final results.
Waiting on results; check back later
Proposal 3 and 4
Proposal 3, regarding the right to collectively bargain, requires a majority affirmation to pass.
This amendment to the Vermont Constitution would prevent future legislation that “interferes with, negates or diminishes” the right of workers to bargain their wages, hours or other terms of employment, per the proposal. It further prevents the passing of a “right to work” law, which would prohibit a union membership requirement in unionized workplaces.
Proposal 4, requires a majority affirmation to pass.
This amendment to the Vermont Constitution would add an equal treatment clause spanning across “race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and national origin,” per the proposal. It also stated that nothing shall prevent measures intended to provide equal opportunity and treatment for members of groups “historically subject to discrimination.”
Windsor County Sheriff
Both candidates have had notable tenures at the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, with Democrat Claude Weyant serving 16 years and Republican Richard King serving 24 years.
Ryan Palmer, the current Windsor County Sheriff, had his law enforcement credentials suspended amid sexual misconduct charges earlier this year. While he remains in office, Weyant took over day-to-day operations at the department.
Orange County Sheriff
Two newcomers — Democrat Sean McRae and Republican Jacob Held — entered the race for sheriff after current Sheriff George Contois opted not to seek re-election.
McRae, of Bethel, joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher in 2015. He then served as a deputy sheriff for the department under former Sheriff Bill Bohnyak.Held, of Washington, joined the sheriff’s office in 2024 as a civil process server before becoming a certified police officer in March 2025.
Orange-Caledonia House seat
Independent Susan Culp, of Newbury, ran against Democrat Aiden Otterman and Republican Tom Otterman, both of Topsham, for the single Orange-Caledonia House seat representing Newbury, Groton and Topsham.
Incumbent Joe Parsons decided not to run for the seat after three terms, opening the door for three newcomers to put their names on the ballot.
Culp currently serves as chair of the Newbury Selectboard.
Aiden Otterman, a senior at Thetford Academy, would have been the youngest Vermont House representative at 18 years old. Despite his youth, Otterman cited experience chairing the Vermont Youth Council and testifying in the legislature.
Tom Otterman, Aiden Otterman’s great-uncle, decided to run upon realizing that no other Republicans sought to represent the district. He ran on land-permitting experience and conservative values.
Orange-Washington-Addison
Incumbent Larry Satcowitz, of Randolph, is vying to secure his fourth term in the House against newcomers Emery Mattheis, a member of the Vermont Progressive Party, Republican Lance Ryan and Republican Stephen Webster.
The House seat represents the towns of Randolph, Braintree, Brookfield, Granville and Roxbury.
Windsor-1
Democrat Dylan Morse, Independent Rich Thomas and Demcrat John Tansey are hoping to earn the two House seats representing Hartland, West Windsor and Windsor.
Incumbent John Bartholomew, who served eight terms in the House, fell to Morse and John Tansey, of Hartland, in the primary, and incumbent Elizabeth Burrows opted to run for a Senate seat instead of a fourth term in the House.
No Republicans joined the race.
Windsor-Addison
Incumbent Democrat Kirk White and fellow Bethel resident Republican Michael White are vying for the Windsor-Addison House seat representing Bethel, Stockbridge, Rochester and Hancock.
Kirk White is wrapping up his third term in the seat, and ran unopposed in the past two elections.
Michael White, a newcomer in politics, works at the Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. Despite sharing a last name with his opponent, the two are not related.
Windsor-Orange-1
Democrat John K. O’Brien, the incumbent candidate, and Republican Bruce Post are vying for the Windsor-Orange-1 seat representing Tunbridge and Royalton.
O’Brien, of Tunbridge, has served as a state representative for eight years, and as a Tunbridge Selectboard member for 13 years.
Bruce Post, of Royalton, is a farmer and motor coach operator whose campaign page on Facebook notes that he has garnered the support of Gov. Phil Scott.
The Valley News will update this story with official results for all races as they become available.
