The key facts

  • Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed created the leadership political committee Habibi PAC
  • The committee is registered with the FEC and is separate from his Senate campaign
  • The name references the Arabic word 'habibi' — 'my beloved' — which became the signature expression of his campaign

A new committee after the victory

Senator-elect from Michigan Abdul El-Sayed registered a political committee, Habibi PAC, just days after winning the election, The Hill reports, citing documents from the Federal Election Commission. It is a leadership PAC — a structure separate from his Senate campaign, intended to raise funds in support of political allies. According to the outlet, the very creation of the committee signals El-Sayed's intention to remain an influential figure in the Democratic Party beyond his own election campaign.

The name and campaign context

The name references the Arabic word 'habibi' ('my beloved'), which during the campaign became a recognizable expression among El-Sayed's supporters. In his victory speech, he addressed Vice President JD Vance with the words 'JD, habibi,' noting the irony that in January Vance will, by constitutional procedure, administer the oath of office to him.

Attacks during the campaign and the result

El-Sayed, who spoke openly about his Muslim identity during the campaign, was attacked over his religion: Donald Trump called him a 'jihadist,' and Republican Mike Rogers tried to link him to extremist groups — according to Anadolu, no such connection was established. Despite this, El-Sayed won by a wide margin in Michigan — a swing state that, as the outlet notes, could play an important role in the 2028 presidential election.