Anne Brensley, a Wayland selectman and business executive, announced Monday she is running for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts as a Republican.

The 44-year-old, who has served as a selectman since 2023, is the first Republican to announce a run for the post in the 2026 election cycle.

Brensley, who is also an attorney and the chief executive officer of DevCo North America (a real estate investment company), said she will focus her campaign on local issues that she argues have been ignored by both parties.

“Massachusetts deserves leadership that listens to its people and tackles the local issues that matter most,” Brensley said in a press release. “For too long, both parties have ignored the unique challenges facing our towns and cities. I’m running to bring focus back to our communities, from affordability to better schools, cleaner water, and safer streets, by visiting the majority of towns throughout Massachusetts and talking directly to voters.”

Brensley was born in Honduras and adopted at a young age. She graduated from Suffolk Law School and has led DevCo through more than 100 real estate transactions.

Her campaign said she has already visited Medway, Worcester, Fitchburg, Pembroke, and Fall River as part of her effort to hear directly from voters.

Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Amy Carnevale welcomed Brensley into the 2026 race.

“Anne is a tremendous candidate to run on the Republican ticket in 2026,” Carnevale said in a written statement. “She is a mother and business owner who has served in local government and knows the importance of putting politics aside and residents first. With Anne Brensley and our Republican candidate for governor leading next year’s ticket, the MassGOP is poised to break one-party rule and restore balance to Beacon Hill.”

On her campaign web site, Brensley outlined her priorities on fiscal policy, education, public safety, and family issues.

She said she would focus on “reducing government waste and keeping taxes low for Massachusetts families and businesses.” Her campaign web site says she supports cutting unnecessary government spending, eliminating wasteful programs, and streamlining state operations.

On the economy, her web site says she would “reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses,” support job creation, attract new businesses to the state, and protect existing jobs from “government overreach.”

Her education platform centers on school choice and academic standards. She pledged to “support school choice and parental rights in education,” “focus on core subjects and academic excellence,” reduce administrative costs in school systems, and ensure funding goes directly to classrooms.

She also said she would “back the blue and support our law enforcement officers,” provide adequate funding for police and emergency services, and oppose policies she believes compromise public safety.

Her campaign also says she opposes any new taxes.

On family issues, the site says she would “protect parental rights and family autonomy,” support policies to help families thrive, and “preserve traditional values and constitutional rights.”

While no other Republicans have announced runs for lieutenant governor, two are running for governor: former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority chief administator Brian Shortsleeve of Barnstable and former state Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy of Lexington.

On the Democratic side, Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll are seeking re-election.

You can learn more about Brensley's campaign by visiting www.anne2026.com.