Simonetti launches U.S. Senate bid as legal case lingers

Marisa Simonetti, an Edina businesswoman and former Hennepin County Board candidate, announced Friday she is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tina Smith.

Smith, a Democrat who has served in the Senate since 2018, announced earlier this month that she will not seek reelection in 2026. Her term ends in January 2027.

Simonetti, 31, enters the race with a message centered on “hope, peace, and authentic connection,” while an unresolved misdemeanor charge stemming from a bizarre 2024 incident involving a tarantula continues to shadow her campaign.

“I am running for Senate because I believe in the resiliency of Minnesota – a state where every voice matters, every dream has a chance, and every community thrives,” Simonetti said in a press release. “We need leadership who partners with the community in hope, peace, and authentic connection.”

Simonetti faces a fifth-degree assault charge in Hennepin County District Court, accused of causing fear of bodily harm during an altercation with an Airbnb guest last June. She allegedly tossed a live tarantula and other objects down a staircase at the guest while blaring Christian music. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 8.

She has denied the allegations, calling the guest a “squatter” and describing her actions as self-defense. Her attorney, John T. Daly of Daly Defense in Lakeville, has said the charge will be contested in court.

Despite the legal case, Simonetti leaned into the notoriety during her 2024 campaign for the Hennepin County Board, referring to herself as the “tarantula tosser” on social media and selling themed merchandise to raise campaign funds.

That year, she ran for the board’s District 6 seat, which includes parts of Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, and Hopkins. She advanced from a six-person primary but lost both the May special election and the November general election to former DFL state Rep. Heather Edelson.

Though the race was officially nonpartisan, Simonetti positioned herself as a conservative candidate, while Edelson, a former DFL lawmaker, was widely viewed as the preferred choice of Democrats.

Simonetti said she is running for the Senate as an independent and is “allowing the steps to unfold,” suggesting she has not ruled out seeking a party endorsement.

“I have some concerns with the current leadership,” she said in a written response to Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) on Friday. “So I’m going to run my campaign listening and doing positive things and see how things align.”

Asked whether she still considers herself a Republican, Simonetti said her concerns lie with the state party, not national figures like former President Donald Trump.

“It’s not about Trump,” she said. “Once our local party begins to support each other, I think we can get some real momentum.”

Simonetti’s online presence — which she used to engage voters during her 2024 campaign — included acknowledgment of an OnlyFans account and social media posts embracing her “tarantula” incident. She has dismissed controversy, saying her focus remains on lowering taxes and improving public safety.

Her past includes traffic citations and the loss of her Minnesota real estate license in 2016, when the Department of Commerce found she had made false statements and engaged in fraudulent practices. In 2024, the 3rd Congressional District Republican Party withdrew its support, stating Simonetti “does not reflect our values.” She responded by accusing party leaders of prioritizing “grift” over viable candidates.

Simonetti’s Senate campaign adds to a growing field of potential contenders in what could become one of Minnesota’s most competitive races in years. Democrats said to be considering a run include Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig.

Republicans are also expected to compete aggressively. Minnesota has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2002.

According to media reports, two Republicans – former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze and 2024 GOP Senate nominee Royce White – have already declared their candidacies. Others, including state Sen. Julia Coleman and former state auditor candidate Ryan Wilson, are considered potential contenders.

Simonetti, meanwhile, is focused on the long haul.

“This campaign is about hope – hope that we can choose to continually be better than we were yesterday,” she said in her press release. “Leadership isn’t just about policies or perfection. It’s about the daily walk.”