Dems Turn Away From ‘Defund the Police’ and ‘Socialism’

After unexpected and significant losses on Election Day, House Democrats on Sunday distanced themselves from the "defund the police" movement and the label of "socialism," claiming that they were merely slogans or Republican smears.

"Not a single member of Congress that I'm aware of campaigned on socialism or defunding the police in this general election," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) said on CNN's State of the Union. "These were largely slogans or they were demands from activist groups." The congresswoman, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, added that "Republicans levied very effective rhetorical attacks against our party" by linking Democrats to the movements.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.), who called to "completely dismantle" her city's police department this year, went further and said it was a Republican "narrative" that radical movements doomed Democrats in swing districts.