BOSTON — A Beacon Hill Democrat from Roxbury has been caught dipping into her campaign war chest to pay for hair appointments, Uber Eats, and thousands of dollars in mystery expenses — and is now cutting a $6,000 check to the state after campaign finance regulators stepped in.

State Representative Chynah Tyler agreed to the penalty after regulators determined she illegally used campaign funds for personal spending and failed to properly document thousands more dollars taken from her campaign account.

Among the eyebrow-raising expenses flagged by regulators:

• $223 at a hair-braiding salon
• Multiple Uber Eats food delivery orders
• A $100 AAA membership

In total, officials identified $5,664 in campaign money used for personal purposes. Tyler later reimbursed her campaign $830, effectively acknowledging that those expenses never should have been charged to donors in the first place.

But regulators say the bigger problem was money Tyler couldn’t explain at all.

During a short stretch last spring and summer, her campaign reported spending $6,190 total — yet at least $4,500 of it lacked basic documentation, even after officials repeatedly requested receipts, invoices, or records. Regulators said the failure to produce paperwork creates a presumption the money was spent on personal use.

The questionable spending made up a significant share of Tyler’s campaign activity in 2025, a non-election year when she reported spending just under $40,000 total.

The settlement also outlines a broader pattern of campaign finance violations, including filing disclosure reports late, accepting donations over legal limits, and failing to keep required financial records.

Tyler cited personal circumstances during the period in question in a written response included with the settlement, but did not tie those circumstances to the specific expenses flagged by regulators.

First elected in 2017, Tyler represents a Roxbury-based district that is a Democratic stronghold. She is generally aligned with Boston’s progressive political wing and has supported legislation centered on racial equity initiatives, criminal justice reform, housing access, and economic opportunity. Tyler has held leadership roles within the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus and currently serves as vice chair of a House committee responsible for state administration and regulatory oversight — placing her among lawmakers tasked with policing government accountability and compliance.