US Senator Abdul El-Sayed launches ‘Habibi’ political action committee

• Abdul El-Sayed has registered Habibi PAC, a leadership political action committee, days after his historic Senate election victory.
• The committee aims to support fellow Democrats and build political influence, despite his campaign pledge to reduce the role of money in politics.

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has launched a political action committee called "Habibi PAC," days after becoming the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate.

A Federal Election Commission filing dated Thursday lists Habibi PAC as a leadership PAC sponsored by El-Sayed. Unlike campaign committees, leadership PACs operate separately from a politician's own election campaign.

The committee is designed to support fellow Democratic candidates while helping El-Sayed build influence among lawmakers and within the Democratic Party.

The name "Habibi" is an Arabic term of endearment meaning "my dear" or "my beloved." El-Sayed frequently used the word during his campaign, including in his victory speech in Detroit, when he addressed Vice President JD Vance.

"JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January," he said.

El-Sayed is among several newly elected Democrats who have registered leadership PACs following Tuesday's midterm elections. Others include Arizona Congressman-elect Amish Shah, who registered "PACStreet Boy," Iowa Senator-elect Josh Turek, who launched "WheelPAC," and North Carolina Senator-elect Roy Cooper, whose committee is called "One NC PAC."

According to OpenSecrets, leadership PACs allow lawmakers to strengthen relationships with colleagues by financially supporting other candidates, political parties and committees. They can also help lawmakers build support for future leadership positions and committee chairmanships.

During the 2024 election cycle, leadership PACs contributed $79.3 million to federal candidates, with most of the money going to Republicans.

El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, defeated Republican Mike Rogers after a campaign in which President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Senator Ted Cruz questioned his loyalty and made accusations linking him to the Muslim Brotherhood without providing evidence.

During his campaign, El-Sayed also criticized US funding for foreign governments accused of committing genocide and apartheid, arguing that taxpayers' money should be used to save lives at home.

Reducing the influence of money in politics was among his central campaign pledges. In his victory speech, he said the election had demonstrated that, in a battle between money and the many, "the many can win."

His victory came amid the most expensive US midterm election cycle on record. According to OpenSecrets estimates, total election spending is projected to reach $11.9 billion, compared with $8.9 billion in 2022.

Outside spending, largely driven by super PACs, is projected to reach $3.9 billion, while undisclosed political contributions, commonly known as dark money, have already exceeded $1.47 billion.

The launch of Habibi PAC adds El-Sayed to a growing group of newly elected Democrats seeking to build political networks and influence beyond their own campaigns.