Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed is moving quickly to expand his influence beyond his own election, launching a leadership political action committee called Habibi PAC that is intended to support political allies and other candidates.

The new committee comes after El-Sayed campaigned heavily on the theme of getting “money out of politics,” even as wealthy donors and outside political interests supported his Senate campaign.

Abdul El-Sayed says he opposes Chuck Schumer because he wants to “get money out of politics”

Chuck Schumer’s PAC, Senate Majority PAC, spent $67M to get him across the finish line https://t.co/BBMf9yHX8q — DSA Watch (@DSA_Watch) November 5, 2026

The PAC’s name comes from the Arabic word “habibi,” a term of endearment that can mean “my beloved” and is also commonly used in a more casual way.

The Hill reported Friday that the new committee is not connected directly to El-Sayed’s campaign and is designed to raise money for political allies.

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"The leadership PAC, a committee not connected to his campaign and meant to raise money for his political allies, is the latest sign that El-Sayed aims to influence Democratic politics into the future. El-Sayed has used the word Habibi, an Arabic term of endearment meaning “my beloved” but often used more casually, to address his opponents in the wake of Tuesday’s win… Supporters often wore “Habibi for Abdul” shirts on the campaign trail."

El-Sayed has used the word repeatedly since his victory and has directed it at political opponents.

He previously referred to what he called the “delicious irony” of Vice President JD Vance eventually having to swear him into office while addressing Vance as “habibi.”

During his victory speech, El-Sayed also used Arabic and credited Allah after winning the Michigan Senate race.

CONCERNING: THIS IS WHAT EL SAYED SAID IN ARABIC...

"Allah willing...into praise be to allah. All Americans should know this now because this is now our language." This is quite UNSETTLING! @ApostateProphet @AndrewKolvet https://t.co/qi24mccIas — Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) November 5, 2026

El-Sayed’s background and political associations became a major issue during the campaign.

Critics have alleged that he has ties to Muslim Brotherhood-connected organizations and pointed to members of his extended family who they say have worked with groups accused of serving as fronts for terrorist organizations. His sister has also been cited by critics over comments they say indicate a longstanding family connection to the Muslim Brotherhood.

El-Sayed has additionally faced scrutiny over having held dual citizenship with Egypt.

His supporters, however, helped propel him to a major statewide victory despite significant opposition from Republicans and some Democrats.

Republican Mike Rogers drew notable support from black, Jewish, and left-leaning voters, reportedly performing better among those groups than recent Republican candidates in Michigan.

Questions and suspicions about the size of El-Sayed’s vote total have also circulated among critics, though no evidence establishing election fraud was presented in the supplied material.

Some Democrats in Michigan opposed El-Sayed during the race, adding to debate over how he assembled such a large coalition.

His victory has also renewed arguments over the role demographic changes are playing in American politics.

Critics of Democratic immigration policies argue that large-scale immigration has altered the political composition of several states and metropolitan areas, including Michigan, and that those changes are increasingly affecting statewide elections.

The formation of Habibi PAC is significant because it indicates that El-Sayed intends to build a broader political network rather than simply serve as a first-term senator.

Leadership PACs are commonly used by elected officials to support allies, strengthen relationships within their party, and increase their influence over future candidates and campaigns.

El-Sayed’s decision to give the committee an Arabic name has also drawn attention because of his frequent use of the Arabic language and Islamic references in public appearances.

Supporters wore “Habibi for Abdul” shirts during the campaign, while El-Sayed continued using the term after Election Day.

The PAC also comes amid broader debate over the growing number of Muslim candidates entering American politics and the ideological positions some of those candidates hold.

Critics of El-Sayed have accused him of taking positions sympathetic to Islamist causes and of maintaining relationships with organizations they view as hostile to U.S. interests.

Those critics argue that the creation of a political organization designed to elevate like-minded candidates deserves close scrutiny, particularly given El-Sayed’s previous campaign rhetoric about reducing the role of money in politics.

Mosques violated federal tax restrictions by campaigning openly for El-Sayed and claims Muslim political leaders in the United States mobilized tens of millions of dollars during the election cycle to support Muslim candidates.

Those allegations have contributed to criticism that the political infrastructure surrounding El-Sayed extends well beyond his individual Senate campaign.

For now, Habibi PAC gives the incoming senator a formal vehicle to raise money, support allies, and influence future Democratic races.

With his Senate victory secured, El-Sayed is signaling that his political ambitions include shaping the Democratic Party well beyond Michigan.

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