A Democrat running for local office in Maryland spent thousands of campaign dollars on McDonald's, Waffle House, grocery runs, and a monster truck show, a new report has revealed.
Campaign Spending Details
Geonta Simmons, 25, is one of four candidates vying to replace Councilmember Vice Chair Pete Smith for the District 1 seat on the Anne Arundel County Council. Just over a month before the Democratic primary election, it emerged that Simmons spent $5,426.56 on fast food and entertainment between March 2025 and January 2026, according to an annual campaign finance report reviewed by The Baltimore Banner.
Simmons, a first-time candidate from Brooklyn Park, spent at least $1,612 at popular fast food chains such as McDonald's, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Outback Steakhouse, and Chipotle, an analysis by the Banner found. Approximately 30 percent of his campaign funds went to takeout, while nearly 14 percent was used for grocery hauls. He used campaign money for purchases at Walmart or Sam's Club, including a $102.74 expense on August 21, 2025, and $206.95 at a Giant grocery store on August 26, 2025.
Candidate's Response
When questioned about his spending, Simmons admitted it 'just doesn't look good,' telling the Banner, 'I take full responsibility.' He explained that most costs were for campaign-related tasks but acknowledged mistakes as a first-time candidate. Simmons said he has since reimbursed the campaign for food orders and other non-related expenses, including a $44.25 bill at a Waffle House in North Carolina and $88.64 for monster truck show tickets. He noted that some expenses were 'made in error' or from misunderstanding what qualifies as a campaign expenditure.
Simmons stated he contacted the State Board of Elections to avoid 'raising any suspicion.' He added, 'My credit card looks exactly like my campaign card. And I didn't notice until I was doing the finance reports.' His reimbursements should appear on the pre-primary finance report due by May 19.
Legal Context
Under Maryland campaign finance laws, funds can be spent at restaurants for legitimate political reasons, but only the campaign treasurer—not the candidate—can authorize purchases. Destiny Haynes is listed as Simmons' treasurer on his campaign website; her LinkedIn profile shows she started in February 2025 and attended Anne Arundel Community College, but it is unclear if she has prior campaign experience.
The Democratic primary election is scheduled for June 23, 2026. The Daily Mail contacted Simmons and the State Board of Elections for comment.
