Peabody City Councilor Anne Manning-Martin, 59, announced she is joining Republican Mike Kennealy’s campaign for governor as his preferred candidate for lieutenant governor in Massachusetts.

Since Massachusetts holds separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, the pairing is unofficial until voters select nominees in September. Manning-Martin now joins Wayland Selectman Anne Brensley as a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.

The Kennealy-Manning-Martin alliance says it will focus on bringing "integrity, accountability, and common sense to Beacon Hill,” while criticizing Governor Maura Healey’s policies on housing, public safety, and affordability.

Who Is Anne Manning-Martin?

Manning-Martin is a fifth-generation Peabody native with 34 years in law enforcement and 27 years in elected office. She has served eight years on the Peabody School Committee and 19 years on the Peabody City Council. She currently works as Deputy Superintendent at the Department of Correction’s Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Unit.

Her campaign describes her as a “tough, no-nonsense leader who refuses to back down,” often standing as what it calls “the lone voice for fiscal discipline, transparency, and common-sense governance.”

She has frequently emphasized careful spending. “I spend taxpayer dollars the same way I spend my own—only when I have to,” Manning-Martin has said.

Why She Says She’s Running

In her announcement, Manning-Martin sharply criticized the Healey administration.

“I’ve spent my career in law enforcement and local government holding people accountable. I don’t back down, and I don’t look the other way. The people of Massachusetts deserve leaders who will fight for them – not protect a broken system,” she said.

She added: “Governor Healey’s policies have driven families and businesses out of our state, undermined local control, made our communities less safe, weaponized the MBTA Communities Act, and sent utility bills through the roof. Massachusetts is now losing jobs and residents because Beacon Hill has lost touch with reality.”

Kennealy praised her leadership.

“Anne Manning-Martin is exactly the kind of partner Massachusetts needs. She’s tough. She’s battle-tested. And she doesn’t tolerate nonsense,” he said.

He added that she “understands what Governor Healey’s failed policies are doing because she hears it directly from the people she serves.”

Past Legal Fight With Beacon Hill

Manning-Martin previously sued the administration of former Governor Deval Patrick over what she described as discrimination and wrongful demotion following a cancer diagnosis. According to campaign materials, she won that case after her position was reassigned with a significant raise to someone else.

Why This Matters in Massachusetts

The Republican primary for lieutenant governor will now include Manning-Martin and Brensley, while Kennealy continues his campaign for governor. Since the offices are nominated separately, voters will ultimately decide whether the two appear on the same general election ticket.

The race is shaping up around affordability, public safety, and state mandates such as the MBTA Communities Act that have impacted cities and towns across Greater Boston.

NewBostonPost will continue covering developments in the 2026 governor’s race. Members receive in-depth coverage of Beacon Hill campaigns and policy debates across the Commonwealth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anne Manning-Martin officially Mike Kennealy’s running mate?

Not yet. Massachusetts holds separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, so voters must nominate each candidate individually before they form a formal ticket.

Who else is running for Republican lieutenant governor?

Wayland Selectman Anne Brensley has also declared as a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.

What experience does Manning-Martin have?

She has 27 years of elected service in Peabody and 34 years in law enforcement, including her current role at the Department of Correction.

What issues is the Kennealy campaign focusing on?

The campaign says it will prioritize affordability, public safety, fiscal discipline, and restoring local control in Massachusetts.