Abdul El-Sayed Launches Habibi PAC After Historic Senate Win
Democratic politician Abdul El-Sayed has made history as the first Muslim US senator from Michigan, launching Habibi PAC to expand his political influence.
Portal Islam 
This article was first published in Indonesian. Baca versi Bahasa Indonesia →
Democratic politician Abdul El-Sayed has made a new piece of history in the political arena of the United States after being elected as the first Muslim senator to win a US Senate seat in the state of Michigan during the midterm elections on Sunday (Nov 8, 2026, UTC+7). According to reports by CNN Indonesia, just days after his historic victory, he immediately launched a political action committee named "Habibi PAC".
In the contest, El-Sayed successfully defeated Donald Trump-backed Republican candidate Mike Rogers. According to a report by detikHikmah, El-Sayed silenced his opponents' narratives at the ballot box by securing more than 52 percent of the vote. Regarding the newly elected senator's age, media reports differ: detikHikmah noted that El-Sayed is 42 years old, while CNN Indonesia recorded his age as 46. The Egyptian-descent doctor and graduate of Oxford and Columbia University established this political committee to broaden his influence within the Democratic Party's political stage.
The Launch of Habibi PAC and Political Jabs
According to CNN Indonesia citing The Hill, documents submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show that the Democratic politician established a leadership PAC separate from his campaign team. This committee is specifically designed to raise funds for his political allies. The name "Habibi" is taken from the Arabic vocabulary meaning "my beloved" or "the one I cherish", an expression familiarly used throughout his campaign.
The use of the word "Habibi" also served as a witty jab by El-Sayed toward US Vice President JD Vance. Quoted from detikHikmah, which cited Al-Jazeera, El-Sayed alluded to Vance's constitutional obligation to officiate his swearing-in ceremony in January 2027.
"JD, habibi (an Arabic term of endearment), it is a constitutional irony that you are obligated to take my oath and swear me in this coming January," El-Sayed said.
CNN Indonesia reported that throughout the campaign, both JD Vance and Donald Trump continuously tried to tear El-Sayed down by attacking his Muslim identity. Trump dubbed him a "jihadist", accused him of being a terrorist, and linked him to the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, Vance called him a "psychopath", and his rival Mike Rogers attempted to tie him to extremist groups, though it was never proven.
Responding to these attacks and taunts, detikHikmah reported El-Sayed's sharp remarks directed at Trump:
"Donald, I know you struggle to pronounce my name. So when JD swears me in, you can just call me 'Senator.' Let's hope we never see people like you in Michigan again," he asserted.
Facing Islamophobia and Foreign Policy Stances
Based on reports by detikHikmah, El-Sayed successfully navigated various onslaughts of racism, Islamophobia, and accusations of anti-Semitism. During the campaign, he was even accused of having ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Furthermore, El-Sayed's use of the term "Insha'Allah" was twisted by right-wing groups as a threat to the US.
Quoted from detikHikmah, El-Sayed shared his emotional sentiments after confirming his victory:
"To every parent who struggled to explain why the president openly mocks someone for their name or the way they pray, tell your children tomorrow that the bad guys lost," El-Sayed said.
"In the past, we often said 'Insha'Allah' for this victory. But tonight, we get to turn that 'Insha'Allah' into Alhamdulillah," he continued.
El-Sayed's victory also dealt a heavy blow to pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC, which had poured tens of millions of dollars into defeating him since the Democratic primaries. El-Sayed firmly rejects aggressive US foreign policy, opposes the war against Iran, and urges an end to US military aid to Israel, which he accuses of committing genocide in Gaza.
Regarding the use of US taxpayer funds for military combat, El-Sayed shared his perspective:
"It shouldn't be this hard to pay your taxes and know that that money is going toward you and your kids, rather than being used to drop bombs on someone else and their kids," El-Sayed remarked.
"If you believe that Palestinian children should grow up on their ancestral lands without being killed by our tax dollars, and if you believe in equal rights to peace and dignity, that is not hatred—that is love," he concluded.
Wisdom and the Struggle in Patience
The success of breaking into public leadership spaces amidst trials and accusations provides a vivid illustration of the importance of steadfast principles. Facing the challenges of the times, whether for Muslim Women in the Modern Era or Muslims in general, consistency in delivering one's best work and moral integrity remain the primary keys. This aligns with the encouragement to build positive habits as summarized in 10 Productive Muslim Habits Every Day to spread benefit and peace to others.
