GOP candidate wanted her roomie to leave, so naturally, she threw a tarantula at her

On March 13, a Minnesota jury found Marisa Simonetti, a former candidate for a Hennepin County Commissioner seat, guilty on misdemeanor assault charges, stemming from a 2024 incident when Simonetti threw a tarantula at her roommate in an effort to get her renter to leave, among other incidents of harassment and abuse.

The Marissa Simonetti tarantula-tossing case

It started in June 2024, when Minnesota attorney Jacklyn Vasquez began what she intended to be a three-month Airbnb stay in Simonetti’s basement.

Tensions escalated between Simonetti and Vasquez when Vasquez contacted the police after Simonetti allegedly intercepted a grocery delivery and refused to give it to her.

From there, the dispute intensified over complaints about large spiders in the basement and requests for pest control.

Simonetti said she asked Vasquez to leave, claiming the situation had become hostile, and that Vasquez refused to leave, behaving like a “squatter.”

Vasquez denied the claim, stating that she had paid approximately $1,500 and had a valid Airbnb reservation scheduled through August 2024.

Amid the dispute, Vasquez called 911 multiple times, reporting harassment, alleging Simonetti banged pots and pans, played loud music, shut off the internet, tried to force open the basement door, and threw objects down the stairs.

At one point, Vasquez recorded a video showing Simonetti tossing a live tarantula and other items down the stairwell. When police responded, they found a tarantula, tacks, nails, toys, and terrarium debris near the stairs.

Reportedly, officers captured Simonetti “yelling and hooting about Jesus” on audio recorded after they arrived, according to local news outlet KSTP.

After her arrest, Simonetti first appeared in court in July 2024 and represented herself at the trial. In the closing arguments, prosecutor Nicole Appelbaum said, referring to Simonetti,

You know it was intentional because she went out and bought a tarantula Those aren’t accidents. Those are intentional acts.”

via Eden Prairie Local News

Speaking in court, Simonetti said, “One thing I will concede is these actions appear quite outrageous. I’m quite embarrassed, and the situation certainly appears to have been mishandled,” according to Eden Prairie Local News.

Also at trial, prosecutors revealed Simonetti rented the home, and her lease strictly forbade subletting or using the property for Airbnb, making her “host” status a violation of her own rental agreement.

Simonetti’s political career

An active candidate at the time of the confrontation, Simonetti first entered politics in 2024, running as a Republican on a “family values” platform for the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in Minnesota. She ultimately lost the election to Democrat Heather Edelson by roughly 1,000 votes, with Edelson winning about 54% of the vote.

After Simonetti’s arrest, Minnesota Chair of the 3rd Congressional District Republicans, Randy Sutter, said in a statement, in part,

In consultation with our Nominating Committee, I am announcing that the 3rd Congressional District Republicans do not endorse or recommend Marisa Simonetti for any elected office in this district. Simonetti does not reflect our values. In her representation of herself as a Republican, she has only served to embarrass the Republican Party.”

via KMSP

Simonetti’s sentencing is expected to happen on May 1, 2026. She could spend up to one year in prison, pay a $3,000 fine, and serve a probation period. In March 2025, Simonetti announced her run for U.S. Senate, stating she wants to “bring hope and peace back to Minnesota,” according to KSTP.