There are two very different interpretations of Amanda Janoo’s candidacy for governor. It was one of the most brilliant surprises in the recent history of Vermont politics, or it was a lucky accident. Janoo herself? Emerging superstar, or flash in the pan.

It’s a mix of the two, really. My recipe is more of the former with a dash of the latter. I hope this isn’t the end of her electoral career. I hope to see more of her in the near future, including another run for governor in 2028. In fact, she ought to be considered the early favorite for the Democratic nomination because (1) she shows great promise and (2) she had the ovaries to challenge Scott when better-known politicians ran away and hid. Her courage merits reward, not punishment.

So let’s expand on the two interpretations, starting with the positive. Janoo entered the race with an impressive if unconventional resumé. She was born and raised in Vermont, but her professional career has taken place elsewhere. She had never run for office or worked in a government job, but she has developed policy and advised officials on how to implement progressive ideas. It’s a profession that requires well-developed political muscles.

But pretty much nobody in Democratic circles knew much about her. From essentially zero, she accomplished something close to miraculous this year. To begin with, she faced a primary opponent who was better connected in political and donor circles, and she won.

That’s when the hard part began. She faced Gov. Phil Scott, a well-known incumbent with an unbroken record of electoral triumph. She had very little money left over from the primary. She was trying to introduce herself to a much broader electorate during a short general election season, and she couldn’t afford a TV ad blitz that could narrow the familiarity gap. Her fundraising prospects were not great.

But then something started happening.

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