Unearthed video shows Dem candidate supporting 'reallocation' of police funding to social service programs
Same show, different day.
A Democrat running for Congress in one of the most competitive seats in the country once said she would combat systematic racism by redirecting law enforcement funding when asked if she would "defund the police" in 2020.
"I support the reallocation of funding to programs that would allow people to live their best lives," JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine veteran, told the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and Arizona Capitol Times at a town hall event.
"Such as social service programs. Such as housing, public education, healthcare, ensuring that we are addressing economic stability and environmental safety," she continued.
TENNESSEE CANDIDATE REFUSES TO DISAVOW ANTI-POLICE, ANTI-NASHVILLE COMMENTS AHEAD OF TUESDAY ELECTION
Mendoza, who is now running to represent Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, denied ever supporting defunding the police, according to her campaign.
"Jo Mendoza has been on the record for years that police need MORE resources to do their jobs – not less – including body cameras and training. And she has repeatedly stated that she does not support defunding the police," Mendoza's campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Any other assertion is categorically false, a lie and a political smear from D.C. hacks hoping to save Juan Ciscomani from an early retirement," the campaign said, referring to the GOP incumbent Mendoza is running against.
Mendoza did not clarify what she had meant by the 2020 statement. However, her campaign pointed to other comments she made in 2020.
"I do not support defunding the police. Police officers are being asked to do too much. They're being asked to address issues because of the lack of resources in our communities," Mendoza said in another virtual event that year.
The Republican National Committee slammed Mendoza in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"There's no way for JoAnna Mendoza to spin her extreme anti-police views, and Arizonans will know that she sides with dangerous criminals over them," Nick Poche, a spokesperson for the RNC, told Fox News Digital.
The "defund the police" platform, which at the time was championed by several progressive Democrats, has aged poorly, leading Republicans and Democrats alike to view mere mentions of the phrase as a political liability in 2026.
The movement first burst onto the scene in the outrage following the death of George Floyd, who was a Black Minnesota resident who died following a police arrest where an officer pinned him to the ground by placing a knee on his neck for an extended period.
His death sparked an uproar in cities across the country over racism …
Same show, different day.
A Democrat running for Congress in one of the most competitive seats in the country once said she would combat systematic racism by redirecting law enforcement funding when asked if she would "defund the police" in 2020.
"I support the reallocation of funding to programs that would allow people to live their best lives," JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine veteran, told the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and Arizona Capitol Times at a town hall event.
"Such as social service programs. Such as housing, public education, healthcare, ensuring that we are addressing economic stability and environmental safety," she continued.
TENNESSEE CANDIDATE REFUSES TO DISAVOW ANTI-POLICE, ANTI-NASHVILLE COMMENTS AHEAD OF TUESDAY ELECTION
Mendoza, who is now running to represent Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, denied ever supporting defunding the police, according to her campaign.
"Jo Mendoza has been on the record for years that police need MORE resources to do their jobs – not less – including body cameras and training. And she has repeatedly stated that she does not support defunding the police," Mendoza's campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Any other assertion is categorically false, a lie and a political smear from D.C. hacks hoping to save Juan Ciscomani from an early retirement," the campaign said, referring to the GOP incumbent Mendoza is running against.
Mendoza did not clarify what she had meant by the 2020 statement. However, her campaign pointed to other comments she made in 2020.
"I do not support defunding the police. Police officers are being asked to do too much. They're being asked to address issues because of the lack of resources in our communities," Mendoza said in another virtual event that year.
The Republican National Committee slammed Mendoza in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"There's no way for JoAnna Mendoza to spin her extreme anti-police views, and Arizonans will know that she sides with dangerous criminals over them," Nick Poche, a spokesperson for the RNC, told Fox News Digital.
The "defund the police" platform, which at the time was championed by several progressive Democrats, has aged poorly, leading Republicans and Democrats alike to view mere mentions of the phrase as a political liability in 2026.
The movement first burst onto the scene in the outrage following the death of George Floyd, who was a Black Minnesota resident who died following a police arrest where an officer pinned him to the ground by placing a knee on his neck for an extended period.
His death sparked an uproar in cities across the country over racism …
Unearthed video shows Dem candidate supporting 'reallocation' of police funding to social service programs
Same show, different day.
A Democrat running for Congress in one of the most competitive seats in the country once said she would combat systematic racism by redirecting law enforcement funding when asked if she would "defund the police" in 2020.
"I support the reallocation of funding to programs that would allow people to live their best lives," JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine veteran, told the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and Arizona Capitol Times at a town hall event.
"Such as social service programs. Such as housing, public education, healthcare, ensuring that we are addressing economic stability and environmental safety," she continued.
TENNESSEE CANDIDATE REFUSES TO DISAVOW ANTI-POLICE, ANTI-NASHVILLE COMMENTS AHEAD OF TUESDAY ELECTION
Mendoza, who is now running to represent Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, denied ever supporting defunding the police, according to her campaign.
"Jo Mendoza has been on the record for years that police need MORE resources to do their jobs – not less – including body cameras and training. And she has repeatedly stated that she does not support defunding the police," Mendoza's campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Any other assertion is categorically false, a lie and a political smear from D.C. hacks hoping to save Juan Ciscomani from an early retirement," the campaign said, referring to the GOP incumbent Mendoza is running against.
Mendoza did not clarify what she had meant by the 2020 statement. However, her campaign pointed to other comments she made in 2020.
"I do not support defunding the police. Police officers are being asked to do too much. They're being asked to address issues because of the lack of resources in our communities," Mendoza said in another virtual event that year.
The Republican National Committee slammed Mendoza in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"There's no way for JoAnna Mendoza to spin her extreme anti-police views, and Arizonans will know that she sides with dangerous criminals over them," Nick Poche, a spokesperson for the RNC, told Fox News Digital.
The "defund the police" platform, which at the time was championed by several progressive Democrats, has aged poorly, leading Republicans and Democrats alike to view mere mentions of the phrase as a political liability in 2026.
The movement first burst onto the scene in the outrage following the death of George Floyd, who was a Black Minnesota resident who died following a police arrest where an officer pinned him to the ground by placing a knee on his neck for an extended period.
His death sparked an uproar in cities across the country over racism …
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