Abdul El-Sayed Faces 2020 Video Contradictions on Police Funding as Michigan Senate Primary Tightens
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Abdul El-Sayed Faces 2020 Video Contradictions on Police Funding as Michigan Senate Primary Tightens
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 8
Summary
A 2020 University of Michigan video shows Abdul El-Sayed asking whether police "really need to use guns" and whether communities need "as much of a police force," undercutting his campaign claim that he never backed defunding police.
The unearthed clip adds to earlier 2020 remarks in which El-Sayed said he did not use the phrase "defund the police" but supported shifting money away from policing and toward education, anti-poverty efforts and community investment.
His campaign said his views have become "more nuanced" through work with Wayne County law enforcement in 2023 and now emphasize recruitment, retention, retirement funding and opposition to militarized policing.
The dispute lands as El-Sayed leads a contentious Democratic primary against Rep. Haley Stevens for the seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters, a 2026 battleground Republicans are targeting.