‘We do need to defund the police’: 2020 interviews undermine Abdul El-Sayed’s claim he never advocated for unpopular movement
El-Sayed’s Past Support for Police Defunding Resurfaces Ahead of Michigan Senate Race
We do need to defund the police – Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary front-runner, Abdul El-Sayed, is confronting renewed scrutiny over his historical positions regarding police funding. Despite recent assertions that he “never, never called for defunding” law enforcement agencies, documentary evidence from 2020 contradicts this narrative. During a conversation with CNN’s Kasie Hunt last week, El-Sayed explained that he removed earlier tweets endorsing the movement, characterizing them as “clickbait in DC” that were removed “out of context.” However, a comprehensive CNN KFile examination of his media appearances reveals consistent support for the concept.
Documented Endorsements from 2020
Multiple interviews conducted in 2020 and 2021 demonstrate that El-Sayed not only used the phrase but actively championed its core philosophy. This involved redirecting financial resources away from traditional policing and toward other public-sector initiatives, including mental health services and programs addressing poverty. His statements emerged during the peak popularity of the movement, which followed the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020.
“We do need to defund the police,” El-Sayed declared during a 2020 radio broadcast, specifically addressing how the slogan might weaken criminal justice reform initiatives.
While the movement found strong support among progressive circles, it struggled to resonate with the general American public. El-Sayed acknowledged this communication challenge in June 2020 while speaking on Detroit Public Radio. He argued that complex policy discussions were being oversimplified into brief social media posts, stating that it was preferable to provide thorough explanations rather than hiding “behind a hashtag.”
Elaborating on the Philosophy
At that time, El-Sayed held multiple roles as a public health advocate, podcast host, and Detroit’s former public health director. He provided a detailed explanation of what defunding meant in practice. “I believe that we do need to defund the police in so far as defunding the police is disinvesting in the means of incarcerating someone or killing them on the streets,” he stated. He continued by emphasizing investment in education, community engagement, and addressing systemic poverty and racism.
“What if we were to invest in social services? What if we were to invest in public schools? What if we were to invest in public libraries? What would the world look like there? And I think that has to be the way we go. And that means both investing more in these services, and it also means investing less in police,” he said.
Campaign Response and Current Position
Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign, highlighted his extensive public health experience collaborating with local law enforcement throughout Wayne County, Michigan. In a statement provided to CNN, she noted that “his perspective has become more nuanced.” Richner emphasized that “One simple word has never been enough to fully explain the reforms we need for a challenge as complex as our criminal legal system.” She outlined his current positions, including improving law enforcement recruitment, retention, and retirement funding, rejecting militarized policing approaches, supporting the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and promoting community violence intervention alongside behavioral health response programs.
Political Landscape and Polling Data
El-Sayed has positioned himself as the leading Democratic candidate ahead of Michigan’s August 4 primary, one of the nation’s most closely monitored Senate contests. He will compete against US Representative Haley Stevens following the withdrawal of state Senator Mallory McMorrow on Sunday. The two candidates are set to debate on a statewide televised program on Tuesday evening. The Democratic primary winner is anticipated to challenge Republican former Representative Mike Rogers in the November general election.
As a battleground state that President Donald Trump won in two of the last three elections, including 2024, Michigan Republicans are expected to closely examine Democratic candidates’ historical stances on crime and policing issues. El-Sayed, a 41-year-old progressive activist, previously served as the lead public health official for the Detroit Health Department and later directed Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services. He also hosted the podcast “America Dissected” and worked as a CNN contributor.
Even during 2020, polling consistently demonstrated that policies advocating police defunding remained highly unpopular among voters. A Fox News survey conducted in July 2020 revealed that 82% of Michigan registered voters held a favorable opinion of their local police departments. Additionally, a 2021 Axios/Ipsos poll indicated that only 27% of respondents supported the “defund the police” movement, underscoring the political challenges El-Sayed faces in addressing his past statements.
