But she’s also raised concerns among more moderate Democrats that her past support for defunding the police would hurt her chances in the general election against Trump-backed Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. A year later, while serving in the State Assembly, Hong again posted about Blake, writing: “Police exist to uphold white supremacy. “I’m here to make sure that I am the governor that is most serious about public safety, and that means investing in the things that we know prevent crimes.” In neighboring Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a staunch progressive, has faced questions about his past support for defunding the police. The debate is a useful distraction, Lamar said, from real conversations over how to boost public safety.