Democratic Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan has launched his own political action committee, called Habibi PAC, just days after winning his Senate race, Federal Election Commission filings show.
The leadership PAC, which El-Sayed made official Thursday, is not connected to his campaign and is designed to raise money for political allies, a sign the progressive Democrat intends to wield influence in party politics well beyond his own seat.
“Habibi” is an Arabic term of endearment that translates to “my beloved,” though in everyday speech it often means “buddy” or “pal.” El-Sayed used the word frequently during his campaign, and supporters often wore “Habibi for Abdul” shirts on the trail.
He also used it to needle Vice President JD Vance, one of his harshest critics, in his victory speech early Wednesday. Addressing Vance directly, El-Sayed said there was a delicious irony in the fact that the vice president will be constitutionally obligated to swear him in come January.
El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers by a wide margin Tuesday and will become the first Muslim ever elected to the U.S. Senate. The son of Egyptian immigrants, he ran openly on his faith and staked out strong positions against sending military aid to Israel.
The race was among the most bitter of the cycle. President Donald Trump repeatedly called El-Sayed a “jihadist” and deliberately referred to him by his middle name, Mohamed. Rogers often sought to tie him to extremist organizations, though El-Sayed has no connection to them. El-Sayed responded with an ad emphasizing his faith and his mission to serve God and his neighbors, and he later called the contest one of the ugliest campaigns of his lifetime.
The race also exposed deep divisions among Democrats. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., whom El-Sayed defeated in the primary, endorsed Rogers less than 48 hours before Election Day, prompting calls from fellow Democrats to expel her from the House Democratic Caucus. The New Republic reported that El-Sayed overcame $38 million in spending from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
El-Sayed’s win in Michigan, a key swing state in the 2028 presidential race, could position him to influence what is expected to be a crowded Democratic primary field as candidates campaign through the Midwest.
His victory also sparked celebrations abroad. From Michigan to the Middle East, Arabs cheered the result and his introduction of Arabic phrases into American political discourse, according to the Associated Press. El-Sayed said his campaign had turned “inshallah,” meaning “God willing,” into “hamdulillah,” meaning “thank God.”
El-Sayed is not the only incoming Democrat having fun with PAC names. Arizona Rep.-elect Amish Shah is sponsoring a leadership PAC called “PACStreet Boy,” while North Carolina Sen.-elect Roy Cooper went with the more low-key “One NC PAC.”
Leadership PACs have become ubiquitous in Washington, though sponsors are prohibited from using the money to support their own reelection campaigns.
