Abdul El-Sayed launches 'Habibi PAC' days after winning Michigan Senate race

Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed has launched a new political action committee called Habibi PAC, just days after winning Michigan's US Senate race. The move signals his plans to support political allies and build influence within the Democratic Party beyond his election victory.

Abdul El-Sayed launches Habibi PAC after winning Michigan's Senate race to support Democratic allies and expand his political influence. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (REUTERS)Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings cited by The Hill show that El-Sayed set up the leadership PAC after securing his Senate seat on Tuesday.

Unlike a campaign committee, a leadership PAC is not used to fund its founder's own election campaign. Instead, it allows an elected official to raise money and support other candidates and political allies. The name Habibi comes from Arabic and means “my beloved." El-Sayed has repeatedly used the term during his campaign and in his response to political attacks from Republicans.

In his victory speech, he used it to address Vice President JD Vance, who had criticised him during the campaign. “JD, habibi,” El-Sayed said. “There is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January.” The remark drew attention to his upcoming swearing-in, which Vance will oversee in his role as vice president.

Arabic language and culture were visible throughout El-Sayed's campaign. His supporters wore “Habibi for Abdul” shirts at campaign events as he sought to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. El-Sayed defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan, a key battleground state.

The Associated Press reported that his victory made him the first Muslim American elected to the Senate. His campaign also gathered national attention because of his criticism of US military aid to Israel and his decision to openly embrace his Muslim identity.

He ran advertisements highlighting his faith and his stated commitment “to serve God and to serve our neighbors”. El-Sayed faced repeated attacks over his religion during the campaign. President Donald Trump called him a “jihadist” and repeatedly mispronounced his name, referring to him as Mohamed, according to The Hill.

Rogers also tried to link El-Sayed to extremist organisations, although the senator-elect has no established connection to those groups. El-Sayed used the word Habibi to push back against such attacks, turning a familiar Arabic expression into a recurring part of his campaign message.

The launch of Habibi PAC now gives him a way to support other Democratic candidates and take part in future political contests. His victory in Michigan has also placed him in a position to influence discussions within the party as Democrats look ahead to the 2028 presidential election.

Sehjal Gupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times and is part of the US Desk. She covers a wide range of stories from the United States, including politics, sports, entertainment, breaking news, and major global developments.

She enjoys working across different beats because every story brings a fresh perspective and an opportunity to explore something different. Before joining Hindustan Times, Sehjal was part of The Times of India, where she headed the International Sports and US Streamers team.

She reported on international sports, athlete stories, streamer news, and major developments from around the world. The role gave her the opportunity to work on a diverse range of stories while leading coverage across two evolving news categories.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and believes the experience taught her the importance of staying organised, managing priorities, and adapting to new challenges. Over the years, she has reported on a variety of topics and enjoys taking on stories that keep her curious and encourage her to look beyond the obvious.

Expertise: International news, International/US sports, and streamer coverage. Interests: Global affairs, geopolitics, politics, and entertainment. Outside work, Sehjal loves travelling, watching movies, and exploring new places to eat.

She enjoys discovering new cultures and believes that some of the best stories and experiences come from stepping outside her comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar places.Read More