Vermont Democrats welcomed their new standard bearer to the top of the statewide ticket Wednesday, and many Republicans are equally happy to see economist Amanda Janoo emerge as the Democratic nominee for governor.

At a rally in Burlington Wednesday morning, Democratic candidates for statewide office pledged unity with Janoo, who defeated former childcare lobbyist Aly Richards in Tuesday’s primary election.

State Treasurer Mike Pieciak said Janoo, a political unknown when she announced her candidacy in March, is now the “standard bearer” for a party that’s seeking to increase its majorities in the Legislature, and to unseat Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers.

Janoo’s progressive platform includes income tax increases on high earners and publicly funded universal primary care. Pieciak said those are the sorts of policy initiatives that will help Democrats draw a clear distinction with Republicans between now and November.

“Across the country … the elections that have turned toward Democrats, both in primaries and general elections, have been when the greatest amount of contrast has been drawn,” Pieciak said. “And that’s what Amanda will bring to Phil Scott — a significant contrast in the way she’ll lead and the policies she’ll bring forward.”

Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, a Republican from Caledonia County, also sees an ideological chasm between this year’s candidates for governor.

Brian Stevenson

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Vermont Public

Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, seen here at the Statehouse last year, said Janoo's victory in Tuesday's primary sets up a clear contrast for voters in November.

“It won’t be a vanilla/French vanilla conversation,” he said Wednesday.

Beck, however, said that contrast favors not only Scott, but Republican candidates for House and Senate.

“Amanda’s election provides a clear contrast in the November election between what Republicans are all about and what I guess the left edge of the Democratic party is all about,” he said. “It’s more revenue. It’s more taxes. It’s more government programs.”

Janoo said during her campaign that, as governor, she’ll pursue a 2% income tax surcharge on household income over $250,000 and an 8% surcharge on income above $500,000 — nearly double the current top marginal rate. She’s also said Vermont could generate as much as $1 billion in revenue annually by imposing higher taxes on second homes, short-term rentals and properties owned by private equity companies.

She said Wednesday that her tax policies are part of a broader plan to redistribute decision-making power and financial resources back to local communities. And she said it’s a message that has appeal beyond the Democratic Party’s progressive base.

Kyle Ambusk

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Vermont Public

Amanda Janoo, seen here at her primary election night watch party in Burlington on Tuesday, said she thinks her platform will appeal across party lines.

“On both the left and the right, we’re seeing a growing populism and … this demand for more transformative solutions, for speaking to the real concerns, fears and desire for people to have an actual voice and power,” she said. “I think that is a message that is going to resonate across political spectrums.”

Scott’s campaign spokesperson, Emma Shouldice, isn’t so convinced.

“I think Vermonters are tired of the expensive activist policy experiments that have made Vermont unaffordable,” Shouldice said Wednesday. “Vermonters want mainstream solutions, and to do that they need to give the governor a mainstream governing coalition in the Legislature who will actually work with him.”

May Hanlon, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party, said voters have grown tired of Scott blaming the Legislature for problems that are his to solve. The skyrocketing cost of housing and healthcare, she said, have come under the governor’s watch. And she said Janoo’s “fresh energy and bold vision” have “an unprecedented amount of grassroots energy across the state.”

“The leadership that we’ve seen delivered from Gov. Phil Scott, from the Republican Party across the board, hasn’t made Vermonters’ lives any better,” Hanlon said. “So we’re focused on proposing that different vision and being able to move our state forward.”