Complaint Alleges Washington State Rep. Tarra Simmons Misused $30,000 in Campaign Funds

A filing before the Washington Public Disclosure Commission raises questions about out-of-state donations, nonprofit ties, and multiple pending ethics complaints involving the lawmaker.

By: Haitian Prime News|January 22, 2026

A formal complaint submitted to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) alleges that State Rep. Tarra Simmons improperly transferred approximately $30,000 in campaign funds to an out-of-state nonprofit organization, prompting a review of her campaign finance practices and related ethical concerns.

The complaint, filed on January 12, 2026, by Val Torrens, chair of the 23rd Legislative District Democrats, spans 13 pages and alleges that Simmons made a large campaign surplus transfer to Better Minds Better Communities, a nonprofit organization registered in Nevada. According to the filing, the funds were transferred in two separate allotments during the previous year.

The complaint asserts that the Nevada nonprofit does not appear to maintain an active website or recent Internal Revenue Service filings and is reportedly connected to Nevada Assemblymember Jovan Jackson. Public records cited in the complaint reference social media posts and photographs showing Simmons and Jackson together during trips to Las Vegas.

Additionally, the filing notes that True Family Services, an organization that reportedly shares an address with Better Minds Better Communities, faced a Medicaid fraud finding in 2024. The complaint does not allege that Simmons was directly involved in that matter but includes the information as part of its request for a broader ethics review.

The PDC is currently reviewing three ethics complaints involving Simmons. One of the pending complaints alleges that she used her public office to intimidate an individual, identified as Daria Ilgen, in connection with a disputed $10,000 donation. The commission is expected to determine whether the complaints have merit within the next 90 days.

Simmons has previously faced ethics-related scrutiny. In 2023, she was found to have violated Washington’s Ethics Act over a $1,000 speaking fee. Investigative reporting has also shown that Simmons supported state budget reductions that affected Civil Survival, a nonprofit organization where she was formerly employed. She was terminated from that organization in July 2024.

All allegations outlined in the complaints remain unadjudicated. The PDC’s review will determine whether further investigation, penalties, or dismissals are warranted.

Sources

Washington State Public Disclosure Commission complaint filings

Public records referenced in PDC complaint

InvestigateWest reporting