Asked in a recent radio interview whether Republicans are “actually going to be willing” to defund the FBI, IRS and other agencies, Bo Hines, the Trump-endorsed GOP nominee in North Carolina’s 13th District, responded: “Well, I mean we have to.”

When his campaign was contacted for comment for this story, a spokesman provided a statement from Hines that said: “I fully support the men and women within these agencies that work tirelessly in good faith to keep our communities safe, but I do not support the political hacks that use these agencies as vessels to go after the American people.”

The position also has been embraced by Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi and Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who is selling “Defund the FBI” merchandise.

What they’re saying: “Crime has been a winning issue for Republicans, and they need to be careful not to jeopardize that,” Alex Conant, GOP strategist and founding partner of Firehouse Strategies, told Axios.