Democrats distance themselves from 'defund the police' in TV ads

While Republicans across the country have spent years trying to frame Democrats as the party of “Defund the Police,” a trio of Democrats facing tough races this fall are distancing themselves from the rhetoric with new ads siding with law enforcement.

In one recent ad, Rep. Val Demings, R-Fla., a former police chief, called defunding the police "crazy." Demings faces a tough general election for Senate in Florida against incumbent Republican Marco Rubio.

In Ohio, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, dropped a new ad today featuring a local sheriff who tells viewers, "Tim Ryan knows defunding the police is ridiculous." Ryan, too, faces a tough battle against author J.D. Vance, the Republican nominee for Senate who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

And in Arizona, where Republicans are gearing up for a fierce battle to take down Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, Kelly ran an ad last week telling viewers about his mother's career as a police officer, adding, "When I hear people talking about defunding the police, I know they're wrong."