Three Democrats have come forward to challenge Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers in November. The number who have stepped up so far to take on Gov. Phil Scott? Zero. Nine months before the general election, concern is growing within the Democratic and Progressive parties that no prominent cand idates are poised to challenge Scott should he, as expected, seek a sixth term. There is still plenty of time for someone to join the race. To get on the ballot for the August 11 primary, a major-party candidate has until May 28 to file the paperwork for their candidacy. But the later a challenger announces, the harder it will be to overcome the Republican governor’s high approval rating and fundraising prowess. Just last week, Scott was named the most popular governor in the nation for the 14th straight quarter, with an approval rating of 74 percent, according to polling firm Morning Consult. “Phil Scott is just a very tough candidate to beat,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) said. “If he announces again, I don’t think it would be surprising to see the marquee candidates wait two more years.” Many Democrats are frustrated that credible candidates appear unwilling to take on the governor and that rumored second-tier candidates have yet to make up their minds. “The clock is freakin’ ticking,” one Democratic insider said. State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, widely viewed as the most formidable potential opponent to Scott, is shying away from running, though he says he has not made a final decision. For now, I’m continuing to listen and reflect — but my focus is on doing the job Vermonters elected me to do.Treasurer Mike Pieciak “For now, I’m continuing to listen and reflect — but my focus is on doing the job Vermonters elected me to do,” he told Seven Days in a prepared statement. Pieciak’s ambivalence has been particularly disappointing to many Democrats because last year he gave every indication that he was serious about running. He raised money, hired campaign staff, expanded his presence on social media and at times criticized Scott. For example, when Scott voluntarily turned over data about food stamp recipients to the federal government in July, Pieciak warned that “capitulating” to the administration of President Donald Trump would not protect Vermonters. Scott argued that the feds had a right to the data because it’s part of a federal program, but a judge later ruled otherwise. Pieciak has also been vocal about issues typically outside of the state treasurer’s lane, releasing statements after federal immigration agents killed protesters in Minneapolis and the recent detainment in Vermont of Ugandan asylum seeker Steven Tendo. Hopes of a Pieciak run dimmed substantially, however, when his campaign consultant, Natalie Silver, took a job in January to help Maura Sullivan run for Congress in New Hampshire. “I’ve heard from hundreds of Vermonters who want me to run for governor, and I’m humbled by their support and confidence,” Pieciak said in the statement. “I’ve taken those conversations very seriously and continue to give this decision a great deal of thought and consideration.” He’s faced “significant personal challenges for my family” in the past 12 months that “weigh very heavily” on his decision, he said. In an interview, Pieciak said the loss of his mother to cancer in May and his father’s cancer diagnosis around the same time took a personal toll. In October, he commissioned a poll that confirmed Scott would be very difficult to beat, he said. Pieciak intends to run for reelection as treasurer and said he remains invested in finding ways to help Vermonters who are struggling economically. His office has established the Vermont Saves retirement program, helped people wipe out millions in medical debt and invested a record $125 million in housing, he noted. Pieciak is not the only one hesitant to have a go at Scott. Prominent Democratic statewide officeholders Attorney General Charity Clark and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas are both expected to seek reelection to their current jobs. Auditor Doug Hoffer is not seeking reelection. Former Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat who left office in 2024 after 12 years, has no plans to challenge Scott. Weinberger is now executive chair of the advocacy group Let’s Build Homes. Former governor Howard Dean, who toyed with the idea of coming out of retirement to take on Scott in 2024, said he is “not on the short list.” And former lieutenant governor David Zuckerman, who lost badly to Scott in 2020 and his LG job to Rodgers in 2024, says he’s not ready to endure another gubernatorial drubbing. “It is unfortunate that the candidate who has best positioned himself to run is not stepping up,” Zuckerman said, referring to Pieciak. “I already have.” So, party leaders have been scrambling to find someone willing to be their standard-bearer. They’d prefer someone who can win but really just hope someone can do better than the last two candidates. That’s not a very high bar. In 2022 Scott defeated homeless advocate Brenda Siegel by 47 points, winning 71 percent of the vote to Siegel’s 24 percent. His opponent in 2024, political neophyte Esther Charlestin, barely laid a glove on the governor, who cruised to a fifth term with 73 percent of the vote to Charlestin’s 22 percent. The two remaining potential candidates most frequently mentioned are women with significant public policy experience but little in elected office. Aly Richards (right) from Let’s Grow Kids at the Statehouse Credit: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur Alyson “Aly” Richards, a former deputy chief of staff and director of intergovernmental affairs for governor Peter Shumlin, is seriously considering a run, according to insiders. She headed Let’s Grow Kids, the statewide initiative to expand access to affordable childcare, an effort widely viewed as a success. The Montpelier resident is also chair of the board for the University of Vermont Medical Center. She declined to comment. Also considering a run is Amanda Janoo. The South Strafford native and current Burlington resident is cofounder of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont, a coalition of social and economic justice groups. Amanda Janoo Credit: Courtesy “If I’m going to do this, I really want to do this properly so that this campaign feels like a really formidable, competitive race and can really help to advance meaningful change in our state,” Janoo said. The narrative that Scott is unbeatable is fraying, Janoo said, as it becomes clearer that he has no plan to help struggling Vermonters beyond an unpopular school consolidation effort. “Our health care system is collapsing, our communities are being hollowed out because the only people who can afford to buy houses are investors and rich New Yorkers, and meanwhile, our country is being run by a bunch of sociopaths that seem hell-bent on creating some kind of crypto-AI-military dictatorship,” Janoo said. Siegel said it’s disappointing that no one has stepped forward, especially at a time when people across the nation are putting their lives on the line to fight for their rights. “There’s plenty of people who could run for governor right now and who aren’t even willing to take the shot,” Siegel said. “If you’re not willing to have the courage to run for governor now because you might lose, that is not leadership.” If you’re not willing to have the courage to run for governor now because you might lose, that is not leadership.Brenda Siegel A political campaign is not just about winning, Siegel said; it’s about advancing important ideas that help make people’s lives better. She argued that Scott’s past opponents have used their campaigns to move the needle on major public policy, despite their losses. Siegel credited Christine Hallquist, who took on Scott in 2018, with bringing attention to the need for internet connectivity in rural Vermont. Zuckerman helped advance environmental justice, she said, while Siegel herself pressed for solutions to the opioid crisis. “If we don’t have a strong leader at the top of the ticket,” she said, “then we aren’t going to have the tools that we need to create the necessary changes and protection that Vermonters need right now.” ➆ The original print version of this article was headlined “Democrats’ Dilemma | With no prominent candidates yet taking on Gov. Scott, the window to find a strong challenger is closing” The post Democrats Struggle to Find Candidate to Take on Scott appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less