Abdul El-Sayed becomes the first Muslim member of the US Senate. Days later, he files paperwork for new committee called Habibi PAC
What's in a name...
Abdul El-Sayed has officially filed paperwork to launch a new political action committee called ‘Habibi PAC’, marking a significant move just days after he became the first Muslim member of the United States Senate. According to Al Jazeera, this filing, which appeared in Federal Election Commission records recently, designates the committee as a leadership PAC. While these committees are separate from a politician’s own campaign, they serve as a primary tool for lawmakers to influence broader political outcomes.
The word habibi carries a lot of weight for the Michigan senator. It is an Arabic term of endearment that translates to ‘my dear’ or ‘my beloved’. El-Sayed used the word frequently while he was on the campaign trail, and he even brought it into his victory speech in Detroit. He addressed Vice President J.D. Vance directly during that speech, stating, “JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January.”
This choice of name is a clear pushback against the rhetoric he faced during his run for office. President Donald Trump frequently referred to El-Sayed as a jihadist and purposefully misstated his name by calling him by his middle name, Mohamed. His opponent, Mike Rogers, also attempted to link him to extremist organizations. There was no evidence provided to support those claims.
El-Sayed chose to handle these attacks by remaining unapologetic about his faith
The Senator-elect even aired a campaign advertisement that focused on his mission to serve God and his neighbors. Supporters on the campaign trail could be seen wearing shirts that said ‘Habibi for Abdul’ to show their solidarity.
Launching a leadership PAC is a standard move for ambitious lawmakers who want to gain influence within their party. According to data from OpenSecrets, these committees allow members to build clout with their colleagues. They do this by giving money to other members, the party, or different political committees. This strategy helps lawmakers strengthen their bids for leadership posts or committee chairmanships.
El-Sayed is not alone in this effort. Several other newly elected Democrats have registered their own leadership PACs since the vote on Tuesday. This list includes Iowa Senator-elect Josh Turek with his WheelPAC, North Carolina Senator-elect Roy Cooper with his One NC PAC, and Arizona Congressman-elect Amish Shah with his PACStreet Boy.
The launch follows a cycle defined by record-breaking spending
Total spending for the midterm election is expected to reach $11.9 billion. This is a massive jump from the $8.9 billion recorded in 2022. Much of this money comes from super PACs and dark money groups. Outside spending is projected to hit $3.9 billion, which represents an 85% increase over the previous cycle. Dark money from undisclosed donors has already reached $1.47 billion.
El-Sayed has made getting ‘money out of politics’ a central part of his platform. During his victory speech, he claimed that the election results showed that in a battle between money and the many, the many can win. He also spoke about his views on government spending before the vote.
At a rally in Wyandotte, he told his audience that taxpayer money should be focused on saving lives at home. He argued against sending funds to foreign governments that are committing genocide or apartheid. He also noted that simply defeating Trump was not enough to solve the issues he sees in the country. He believes the system that produced that result needs to be replaced.
His victory in Michigan is notable because the state is a key swing state for the 2028 presidential election. By winning there, El-Sayed has potentially positioned himself to influence the Democratic primary field as candidates travel through the Midwest.
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