El-Sayed Launches ‘Habibi PAC’ After US Senate Victory

Washington, MINA – US Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has launched a political action committee named “Habibi PAC” days after winning his Senate race, signaling plans to remain influential in Democratic politics beyond his election campaign, according to The Hill on Saturday via Anadolu Agency.

Federal Election Commission filings show that the Michigan Democrat established the leadership PAC, which is separate from his campaign and is designed to raise funds for political allies.

The name draws on the Arabic word “Habibi,” meaning “my beloved,” which became a familiar expression during El-Sayed’s campaign and among his supporters.

El-Sayed also used the term to address US Vice President JD Vance during his victory speech, saying “JD, habibi,” before pointing out the irony that Vance would be constitutionally required to swear him into office in January.

The creation of a leadership PAC is a standard move for newly elected senators seeking to build influence, but it carries particular significance for El-Sayed. Leadership PACs allow lawmakers to raise money beyond their own campaign needs and distribute it to allies, building goodwill and leverage within the party. For a freshman senator, establishing one immediately after victory signals an intention to be a player in Democratic politics rather than a backbencher.

The “Habibi” branding is also deliberate. El-Sayed campaigned openly on his Muslim identity, and the term became a way for supporters to reclaim an Arabic expression in a political context where his religion was repeatedly attacked. President Donald Trump called him a “jihadist,” and Republican candidate Mike Rogers sought to associate him with extremist groups despite no established connection. By naming his PAC after the expression, El-Sayed is turning an element of his identity that was weaponized against him into a political asset.

His victory in Michigan, a politically significant swing state, gives him a platform that extends beyond his Senate seat. Michigan is likely to play an important role in the 2028 presidential election, and a senator with a leadership PAC and a national profile could influence the Democratic primary and the party’s direction on issues including Gaza and military aid to Israel.

El-Sayed has already signaled that he intends to work across party lines on some issues. He backed Trump’s call to cut aid to Israel and said he is willing to work with the president on ending military assistance. That posture, combined with his new PAC, suggests he intends to be a vocal and independently minded senator rather than a reliable vote for party leadership.

The relationship with Vance adds a personal dimension. Vance, who attributed the Republican midterm losses to the Iran war, will swear El-Sayed into office in January. El-Sayed’s “JD, habibi” remark acknowledged that irony publicly, and the two men will now serve in the same government, one as vice president and the other as a senator from Michigan.

The PAC’s fundraising and spending will be watched as an indicator of whether El-Sayed can translate his electoral success into durable influence within the Democratic Party, particularly on foreign policy issues where he differs from some colleagues and aligns with others, including Adam Hamawy, the newly elected representative from New Jersey who also campaigned on ending military aid to Israel.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)