Video, deleted posts, and past quotes show Abdul El-Sayed backed “defund the police” before denying he ever did.
Story Highlights
- 2020 interview captured El-Sayed saying “we do need to defund the police,” contradicting current denials.
- CNN reported he deleted thousands of old posts, including about a dozen backing the defund push.
- Bridge Michigan quoted him later saying he “never, never” called for defunding, despite the 2020 clip.
- Current campaign now emphasizes funding police recruitment, retention, and retirement, without a detailed plan.
What El-Sayed Said Then Versus Now
In June 2020, Abdul El-Sayed told Detroit Public Radio that “we do need to defund the police,” describing it as moving money away from incarceration and lethal force toward schools and services. That statement is on tape and has been replayed by national media. In contrast, during this year’s Senate race, El-Sayed insisted he “never, never” called for defunding, a claim reported by Bridge Michigan that conflicts with his 2020 words. Voters face a clear on-record mismatch.
CNN also reported that El-Sayed deleted thousands of past social posts, including about a dozen that supported the defund movement, labeled police “standing armies,” and urged shifting funds from departments to social services. His team said he worried about clips being taken out of context. But the removals erase public records that could show his full view. That choice feeds questions about transparency and trust, especially on public safety.
How His Current Message Tries To Reframe the Record
On the trail, El-Sayed now says he supports funding police. His campaign highlights investments in recruitment, retention, and retirement for law enforcement. FactCheck.org summarized that pivot and noted his platform separates those police investments from community programs like mental health and anti-poverty efforts. That framing aims to reassure voters who want safe streets. But it does not resolve whether police budgets would shrink or whether armed response would be limited.
Fox News coverage shows he dodged direct questions about whether he still supports defunding, while past posts argued cities spend “too much” on police and “too little” on schools and housing. The mix of past cut-and-shift rhetoric with today’s fund-and-recruit message creates uncertainty. Without a line-item plan, voters cannot see what he would cut, what he would grow, and how many officers communities would gain or lose.
Why This Matters For Safety, Accountability, and the Rule of Law
Michigan families want safe neighborhoods, quick 911 response, and enough officers to stop violent crime. When a candidate says “never” but the tape shows “defund,” trust takes a hit. Clarity matters because word games can turn into budget cuts, slower response times, and fewer patrols. FactCheck.org reported that Republican ads spotlight his 2020 stance while noting his current claims to fund police hiring and retirement, underscoring the conflict at the heart of this race.
Abdul El-Sayed: “Voted, while he was in Congress, against funding that would have invested in Michigan State Police. That’s his record.
Mine: “Working alongside law enforcement, improving the operations of our medical examiner’s office to improve time on scene. pic.twitter.com/kM6bhmIf0K
— MCBN (@MCBNNEWSS) October 22, 2026
Here is the bottom line for voters: demand details. Ask for a dated public-safety plan that lists exact funding levels for patrol, investigations, training, equipment, recruitment classes, and pension obligations. Require a staffing target by year and city, plus how mental-health and community programs fit in without raiding police budgets. If El-Sayed wants to move past “defund,” he should publish numbers, not slogans. Until then, the record shows a denial that does not match his words on tape.
Sources:
redstate.com, edition.cnn.com, politifact.com, cnn.com, foxnews.com
