El-Sayed launches political action committee named ‘Habibi PAC'
Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who recently became the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, has launched a political action committee (PAC) named ‘Habibi PAC’, days after his election victory.
A filing submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Thursday shows that the committee is registered as a leadership PAC sponsored by El-Sayed. Such committees operate separately from politicians' own election campaigns and can raise and spend money to support other candidates and political organisations.
‘Habibi’, an Arabic term of endearment meaning ‘my dear’ or ‘my beloved’, was a recurring expression in El-Sayed's campaign speeches.
During his victory speech in Detroit, he used the term while addressing US Vice President JD Vance, saying, “JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January.”
El-Sayed is among several newly elected Democratic lawmakers who registered leadership PACs following Tuesday's election. Others include Arizona Congressman-elect Amish Shah, who launched ‘PACStreet Boy’, Iowa Senator-elect Josh Turek's ‘WheelPAC’ and North Carolina Senator-elect Roy Cooper's ‘One NC PAC’.
According to OpenSecrets, leadership PACs allow lawmakers to build influence among their colleagues and strengthen their prospects for leadership positions or committee chairmanships by contributing to other politicians, political parties and committees.
During the 2024 election cycle, leadership PACs contributed $79.3 million to federal candidates. Most of the contributions went to Republicans, although a Democratic leadership PAC was the largest single donor.
El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers after a campaign marked by attacks from US President Donald Trump, Vance and Senator Ted Cruz.
During the campaign, the Republican figures questioned his loyalty, called him a “jihadist” and attempted to link him to the Muslim Brotherhood, without providing evidence for the allegations.
Speaking to Al Jazeera at a rally in Wyandotte, Michigan, days before the election, El-Sayed said US taxpayers' money should be spent saving lives at home rather than supporting foreign governments committing genocide or apartheid.
He also argued that defeating Trump alone would not be enough and called for replacing the political system that had produced him.
Campaign finance reform was among El-Sayed's central pledges. In his victory speech, he said the election result demonstrated that in a contest between money and ordinary people, “the many can win”.
His victory came amid what is projected to be the most expensive midterm election in US history.
An analysis of FEC data by OpenSecrets estimates that total spending in the election cycle will reach $11.9 billion, compared with $8.9 billion in 2022.
Outside spending, largely driven by super PACs, is projected to reach $3.9 billion, an 85 percent increase from the previous midterm election cycle.
Meanwhile, so-called dark money from donors whose identities are not publicly disclosed has already reached at least $1.47 billion, surpassing the previous record of $1.35 billion set in 2024, which included the presidential election.
OpenSecrets also found that conservative groups outspent liberal organisations by approximately $360 million in outside spending, while Democratic candidates were projected to outspend their Republican counterparts by around $800 million.