Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo, left, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Vermont’s Democratic candidate for governor, Amanda Janoo, raised more money than Republican Gov. Phil Scott in September, according to newly filed campaign finance reports, putting her nearly level with the governor in cash on hand heading into the final month of the campaign.

The fundraising numbers are another data point indicating this year’s race for governor is the closest the state has seen in years. 

Two recent polls from the University of New Hampshire and Vermont Public showed Scott’s support slipping among likely voters while Janoo’s has increased, though Scott maintained a 10-point advantage according to the Vermont Public poll. 

“Vermonters want a new direction,” Janoo said in a press release Friday. “I’m humbled by the support.”

Janoo, an economist from Strafford, had never run for office before this year. She beat out childcare advocate Aly Richards in August’s Democratic primary. Scott is seeking his sixth term.

Over the past month, Janoo raised $291,000, according to an Oct. 1 report. She spent $70,000, leaving her with about $280,000 on hand. 

Scott raised $223,240, his report shows. The governor started the month with far more cash than Janoo, however: $307,000. He spent about $234,330 of that, leaving him with $295,845. It was the largest single month of spending Scott has reported so far in the 2026 election cycle.

Janoo brought in large hauls last month from some of the state’s most recognizable names in left-leaning politics. Treasurer Mike Pieciak’s campaign contributed $5,180, the maximum amount allowed by campaign finance law. Democratic U.S. Sen. Peter Welch’s campaign donated $4,700. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s, contributed more than $7,000 between the two of them.

Janoo also received a $5,180 contribution from the state’s largest union, the Vermont NEA. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group, a prominent advocacy and lobbying organization, gave her $4,000.

Still, Janoo has brought in more than twice as much money from individual donors as Scott over the course of the campaign so far. Janoo raised about $689,180 from individuals as of Oct. 1, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s campaign finance database, while Scott brought in about $323,570 from individual donors. 

Scott garnered the maximum contribution of $5,180 from Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon and others who appear to be members of Lauzon’s family. Scott grew up in Barre. He brought in the same amount from Richard Tarrant and others who appear to be family members of the late Richard Tarrant Sr., founder of healthcare technology company IDX and a former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. The Vermont Association of Realtors contributed the $5,180 maximum.

The governor also raised money from a number of companies, including $1,000 from Meta, which owns Facebook. AT&T gave him $500, as did Casella Waste Systems, the state’s largest trash hauler, which contributed $500.

Janoo has said repeatedly that she will not accept donations from corporations, though to be sure, Cohen and Greenfield started one of the state’s best-known businesses. Scott, for his part, told reporters in August that “I’ll take money from anyone,” including corporations, saying such donations did not influence his decision-making in office.

Since the start of the election cycle, Janoo has raised $706,080 in total. That’s more than any Democrat who’s challenged Scott in a reelection campaign at this stage in the race. When Scott was first elected governor in 2016, he had raised about $1.1 million by this point, past filings show.

Most of Scott’s spending over the past month was on TV ads, according to media filings. Of the $160,000 he spent on media, though, about $34,000 was for online advertising mentioning both himself as well as a slew of candidates for the state House and Senate, reports show.

The governor has voiced his support this year for incumbent Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, a Republican. The two have appeared in a TV ad together in recent weeks. 

Unlike Scott, Rodgers outraised his Democratic challenger, Molly Gray, over the past month, according to new filings. Rodgers brought in $150,220, the Oct. 1 reports show, while Gray raised $95,380. Rodgers also spent more, leaving Gray with the financial edge heading into the final month of the campaign.

Gray has $141,540 heading toward the Nov. 3 election, while Rodgers has $84,160. Recent polling also suggested Gray has a substantial lead with likely voters.

Correction: An earlier version misidentified the donor Richard Tarrant.