AGP Executive Report

Governor’s Race: A new poll puts Republican Gov. Phil Scott at 49% and Democrat Amanda Janoo at 46%, a narrow lead unchanged from three weeks ago with Election Day one week away. Ballot Questions: Vermonters will decide whether to constitutionally protect workers’ right to unionize and bar discrimination based on traits including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Voting Plan: State officials say the election is secure and urge voters to return ballots in person rather than risk mail delays. More than 101,000 ballots had been received by Monday, below the pace at this point in 2022. Burlington Voter Privacy: City councilors unanimously sent a proposal forward to shield citizenship status and other personal details on voter lists. If approved by voters in March and the Legislature, it would build on the city’s noncitizen local voting rules. Franklin County Race: State’s Attorney John Lavoie, who faced calls to resign after an investigation substantiated discriminatory remarks, is asking voters for another term.

Election Readiness: With Election Day a week away, Vermont officials say voting is secure and report 101,406 ballots returned as of Monday. Gov. Phil Scott and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas urged residents to make a voting plan, contact their town clerk if a ballot hasn’t arrived, and avoid confrontations with election workers. They reported no specific, credible threats. Burlington Leadership: Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak selected Anthony Geraci, a longtime New York police official and former police chief, to lead the Burlington Police Department. He will replace interim Chief Shawn Burke after a months-long search. Rutland Race: Former alderman Christopher Siliski, a Democrat, is challenging Republican Cindy Laskevich for the Rutland District-6 House seat. Siliski says affordability, especially housing, needs attention and calls for more bipartisan lawmakers. Heating Assistance: Vermont set aside $15.3 million to help low-income residents pay heating bills as fuel costs rise.

Federal Energy Fight: Sen. Bernie Sanders and 111 colleagues are pressing the Trump administration to restore nearly $7 billion for Solar for All, after federal courts ruled the program’s termination unlawful. Vermont’s Governor’s Race: Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic challenger Amanda Janoo faced off in a debate, as early voting reached 88,000. Health Care Oversight: Vermont enacted new rules limiting private equity control over clinical decisions and requiring ownership disclosures for health care facilities and management companies. Heating Costs: State leaders approved $15.3 million in assistance to help low-income Vermonters cover rising home-heating bills. Housing Equity: Vermont nonprofits have ended or revised some race-specific homeownership aid programs amid legal and political concerns, reversing efforts to address a large racial gap in homeownership.

Campaign Trail: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied in Eau Claire with Wisconsin Democrat Rebecca Cooke, making the case for action on income inequality and healthcare costs nine days before Election Day. Vermont Races: Gov. Phil Scott and challenger Amanda Janoo have clashed over affordability, healthcare and school consolidation. Early voting has reached 88,000. In Windsor-4, independent Kyle Hansen says housing costs call for property-tax relief, limits on short-term rentals and more starter homes. Household Costs: Scott and lawmakers approved $15.3 million in heating assistance for low-income Vermonters amid rising fuel prices. Privacy and Policing: Manchester is weighing alternatives to Flock license-plate cameras ahead of Vermont’s ban on automated plate readers.

Election 2026: Vermont early voting has reached 88,000, with Election Day Nov. 3. Gov. Phil Scott and challenger Amanda Janoo clashed over health care, school consolidation and taxes in a recent debate; Bernie Sanders also campaigned with Janoo, urging universal primary care. Disaster Response: Scott warned against a proposed federal shift that could cut FEMA’s share of disaster costs, citing the agency’s importance after Vermont’s recent floods. Heating Aid: State leaders approved $15.3 million in assistance for low-income Vermonters facing high fuel prices. Housing and Affordability: Candidates across several legislative districts are making housing costs and affordability central issues, while Manchester is weighing alternatives to automated license-plate cameras ahead of Vermont’s ban. Health Care: A new state law limits private equity’s control over clinical decisions and requires ownership reporting for health care facilities and management companies.

Election 2026: Vermont’s governor’s race is entering its final stretch, with Gov. Phil Scott and challenger Amanda Janoo clashing over health care, taxes and school consolidation in a televised debate. Early voting has reached 88,000, and voters will also decide two proposed constitutional amendments. Heating Costs: Gov. Scott and lawmakers approved $15.3 million in emergency assistance to help low-income Vermonters pay rising home-heating bills. Surveillance Rules: Manchester is weighing alternatives to its Flock license-plate cameras as a state ban on automated plate readers is set to take effect in July 2027. Health Care: New federal Medicaid eligibility rules could affect tens of thousands of Vermonters; community organizations urge residents to call 211 for help understanding coverage and benefits. State Finances: Vermont is considering a new tax on high earners as budget pressures mount.

Election 2026: Vermont’s governor candidates, Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo, drew sharp contrasts on taxes and health care in their first debate. Early voting has reached 88,000, with voters also weighing closely contested legislative races. Heating Aid: State officials approved $15.3 million to boost winter fuel assistance, including doubling crisis aid to help 2,400 more households. Oil and kerosene prices have surged since last fall. Surveillance Rules: Manchester is weighing alternatives to Flock license-plate cameras as its contract nears expiration. A state law scheduled to take effect in July 2027 will bar municipalities from using automated license-plate readers. Health Coverage: Community groups urge Vermonters facing new Medicaid and food-assistance rules to call 211 for help. Nearly 10,000 Vermonters have lost Medicaid coverage since July 2025, and new eligibility requirements are expected to expand to about 49,000 low-income adults.

Heating Assistance: Gov. Phil Scott and legislative leaders approved $15.3 million in state funds to boost winter heating aid as oil and kerosene prices soar. The package also doubles crisis-fuel assistance, opening help to 2,400 more households. Governor’s Race: Scott and Amanda Janoo faced off in their first debate, highlighting differences on health care, taxes and school consolidation with Election Day nearing. Rutland Senate Race: Independent Dave Wolk is challenging three Republican incumbents for one of Rutland County’s three Senate seats; candidates pointed to affordability, education and public safety as priorities. Election Watch: Vermont early voting has reached 88,000 ballots. Campaign Finance: Sen. Bernie Sanders donated $1 million to Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign after AIPAC signaled it could spend up to $9 million backing his opponent.

Governor’s Race: Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo clashed in their first major debate over affordability, health care, school consolidation and climate policy, sharpening the contrast for voters ahead of Nov. 3. Election Watch: Vermont early voting has reached 88,000, and voters will also decide on two proposed constitutional amendments. Rutland Politics: Democrat Mary Howard is leaving the Legislature, leaving Chris Siliski to defend her House seat against Republican Cindy Laskevich as the county’s Democrats struggle to field candidates. Health Policy: Vermont has restricted private equity’s role in clinical decisions and added ownership-reporting requirements for health care businesses. Meanwhile, community groups are directing residents affected by Medicaid and food-assistance changes to free help through 211.

Governor’s Race: Vermont’s gubernatorial contest sharpened in a debate between Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo, who clashed over school consolidation, taxes and health care. Bernie Sanders joined Janoo in Winooski to back her universal primary-care proposal. Voting: About 88,000 Vermonters had voted early by Thursday; officials urged voters to use town clerks, drop boxes or Election Day polling places rather than mail ballots. Voters will also decide two constitutional amendments on collective bargaining and equal treatment under the law. Campaign Money: Vermont advocates are pushing to curb corporate election spending, while a report says fake AI political ads are circulating in the state. State Policy: Vermont has restricted private-equity influence over clinical decisions and added ownership-reporting rules for health care businesses. State leaders are also weighing a tax on high earners amid budget pressures.

Governor’s Race: Gov. Phil Scott and challenger Amanda Janoo clashed over healthcare, school consolidation and taxes in their first debate, with affordability at the center. Scott’s property-tax and school-consolidation agenda is also fueling opposition from Janoo. Election Administration: Vermont is preparing for rising federal pressure over election rules, while officials say mail voting is proceeding as planned. Voters will also decide two proposed state constitutional amendments. Taxes and Benefits: Vermont is weighing a new tax on high earners amid budget strain. Meanwhile, community groups say nearly 10,000 Vermonters have lost Medicaid and more than 5,000 have lost food assistance since federal changes took effect; residents can call 211 for help navigating benefits. Public Accountability: The Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission acknowledged two more Open Meeting Law violations during its regional plan revision.

Governor’s Race: Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo drew clear contrasts in their first debate, especially on health care, school consolidation and taxes, though the exchange stayed cordial. Election Rules: The Justice Department is weighing more lawsuits over ballot counting in states that automatically mail ballots; Vermont is among seven states with all-mail elections. Taxes and Budget: Janoo and other candidates back a proposed tax on households earning $250,000 or more to fund universal primary care, while critics warn higher taxes could drive residents away. Health and Benefits: New Medicaid rules could affect about 50,000 Vermonters. Nearly 10,000 have already lost coverage since federal changes took effect, and residents can call 211 for help navigating benefits. Disaster Response: Sen. Peter Welch warned that a planned federal pullback from disaster response would leave Vermont and local governments with too little capacity to recover from future floods.

Campaign Tech: AI-generated political ads are appearing in Vermont, mostly as obvious parodies rather than convincing fakes. Lawmakers passed restrictions on deceptive campaign deepfakes earlier this year. Heating Costs: Gov. Phil Scott and legislative leaders are working on emergency aid for 15,000 Vermonters who rely on heating assistance as fuel prices climb. Governor’s Race: Amanda Janoo proposes higher taxes on wealthy residents and some second homes and technology companies to fund services; Scott favors tax cuts or credits. Homelessness Policy: Advocates are urging lawmakers to reject state rules they say make motel shelter harder to access. Officials say they must prioritize people with the greatest needs amid limited rooms. On the Ballot: Vermonters will decide proposed constitutional amendments, including Prop 4, which would add explicit equal-protection guarantees. Rail Funding: Vermont received more than $60 million in federal support for the Western Corridor rail project.

Election 2026: More than 70,000 Vermont mail ballots are back. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas warned that ballots mailed after Oct. 20 could arrive late; voters can drop them with their town clerk or vote in person by 7 p.m. Nov. 3. Transportation: Vermont’s congressional delegation announced $60.3 million in federal aid for Western Corridor rail upgrades. The freight project still needs final designs and permits, and work will happen in phases. Campaign Trail: Vermont Public aired its governor debate and interviews with candidates for state auditor and treasurer. Local House forums have also put affordability and community services at the center of the race. Dairy Funding: Sen. Peter Welch and 16 lawmakers urged the USDA to remove a new 25% matching requirement for dairy-business grants, saying it could shut out farmers and processors. Constitutional Amendment: Voters will decide Proposal 4, which would add explicit protections against unequal treatment based on traits including race, sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Governor’s Race: Vermont Public will host a debate Wednesday at 7 p.m. between Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic-Progressive challenger Amanda Janoo, airing on radio, TV and YouTube. Voting: Tuesday was the deadline to mail ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Voters can still return ballots to their town clerk or an official drop box, or vote in person on Election Day. Ballot Questions: Vermonters will decide on Proposal 3, concerning constitutional protection for union rights, and Proposal 4, which would add explicit equal-treatment protections to the state constitution. Community Investment: The Scott administration awarded $3.7 million in tax credits for 41 projects across 31 downtown and village centers, expected to spur more than $20 million in improvements, including housing and small-business support. Mental Health Services: Washington County Mental Health Services became Vermont’s seventh federally certified community-based integrated health center; the designation brings stable funding and integrated care, with participating centers now serving about 80% of Vermonters.

Election Security: Postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious letter addressed to Rep. Becca Balint’s office as similar mailings targeted election offices and lawmakers nationwide. Governor’s Race: Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo offer sharply different approaches to addiction and homelessness, including whether to support a Burlington overdose prevention center. Vermont Ballot: Voters will decide constitutional amendments on labor rights and equal-rights protections on Nov. 3. Immigration Enforcement: A federal plan that is not yet final could add 24 contractor positions at ICE intelligence offices in Williston. Health Care: Washington County Mental Health Services is Vermont’s seventh certified community-based integrated health center; the state says about 80% of residents are now served by one. Child Care: A new report finds 43% of surveyed Vermont providers added or reopened classrooms or sites in 2025, the highest share among five states studied. Courts: Tate Rheaume’s aggravated-murder case is expected to go to trial in Rutland next spring; his lawyer withdrew a request to move the trial, and the court plans to use an expanded jury pool.