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El-Sayed launches Habibi PAC after Michigan win

Abdul El-Sayed is the first Muslim US senator, and his Habibi PAC launches as leadership PACs gave $79.3m in 2024 and midterm spending is expected to reach $11.9bn, up from $8.9bn in 2022.

Updated 22:30 UTC, 7 November 2026 · 3 reports from 3 outlets · 3 confirmed · 18 one-source

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Image from TRT World: US Senator-elect El-Sayed launches 'Habibi PAC' after Michigan victory

Image: TRT World

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  1. Where it stands Abdul El-Sayed is the first Muslim US senator, and his Habibi PAC launches as leadership PACs gave $79.3m in 2024 and midterm spending is expected to reach $11.9bn, up from $8.9bn in 2022. 23 hrs ago
  2. Upgraded now confirmed by 2 outlets: Total midterm election spending is expected to reach $11.9bn, up from $8.9bn in 2022. 23 hrs ago
  3. New claim El-Sayed campaigned openly on his Muslim faith and faced sustained attacks over his religion. 23 hrs ago
  4. New claim The name "Habibi PAC" comes from the Arabic word "habibi", meaning "my beloved". 23 hrs ago
  5. New claim El-Sayed is a Michigan Democrat. 23 hrs ago
  6. New claim El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race by a wide margin. 23 hrs ago
  7. New claim President Donald Trump labelled El-Sayed a "jihadist". 23 hrs ago
  8. New claim El-Sayed said "JD, habibi" to Vice-President JD Vance during his victory address. 23 hrs ago
  9. New claim Federal Election Commission filings show El-Sayed established the leadership PAC to raise funds for political allies. 23 hrs ago
  10. New claim Abdul El-Sayed launched a political action committee named "Habibi PAC" days after winning his Senate race. 23 hrs ago
15 earlier changes
  1. New claim El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers after Trump, Vance and Ted Cruz called him a "jihadist". 23 hrs ago
  2. New claim Dark money contributions had already crossed $1.47 billion, exceeding the previous record of $1.35 billion. 23 hrs ago
  3. New claim OpenSecrets estimated total political spending would reach $11.9 billion, compared with $8.9 billion in the 2022 midterms. 23 hrs ago
  4. New claim El-Sayed told JD Vance he is constitutionally obligated to swear him in in January. 23 hrs ago
  5. New claim El-Sayed said in his victory speech: "The many can win." 23 hrs ago
  6. New claim Abdul El-Sayed registered a political action committee named Habibi PAC with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. 23 hrs ago
  7. New claim Outside spending is projected to hit $3.9bn, an 85 percent increase on 2022. 23 hrs ago
  8. New claim Total midterm election spending is expected to reach $11.9bn, up from $8.9bn in 2022. 23 hrs ago
  9. New claim El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers. 23 hrs ago
  10. New claim In the 2024 election cycle, leadership PACs gave $79.3m to federal candidates. (confirmed by 2 outlets) 23 hrs ago
  11. New claim El-Sayed told JD Vance: "JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January." 23 hrs ago
  12. New claim A Federal Election Commission filing dated Thursday shows Habibi PAC is registered as a leadership PAC sponsored by El-Sayed. 23 hrs ago
  13. New claim Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim member of the United States Senate. (confirmed by 2 outlets) 23 hrs ago
  14. New claim Abdul El-Sayed launched a political action committee called Habibi PAC. 23 hrs ago
  15. Story opened US Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has launched a political action committee called Habibi PAC following his victory in Michigan. 23 hrs ago

How it’s being told

One card per media bloc, with each outlet’s framing written from its own headlines.

Middle East state media

Al JazeeraState mediaTRT WorldState media

  • Al Jazeera foregrounds El-Sayed's identity as the son of Egyptian immigrants and the 'jihadist' attacks he faced, quoting his 'delicious irony' remark about Vance while also citing FEC.
  • TRT World foregrounds El-Sayed's Muslim faith and the 'sustained attacks' he faced, quoting his 'JD, habibi' victory-address line and Trump's 'jihadist' label, while leaving out the state line's leadership-PAC and midterm spending figures.

In their words

What the people at the centre of this story said, word for word, with the article each quote appeared in.

JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January

El-SayedquoteThe Times of IndiaReceipt

The many can win

El-SayedThe Times of IndiaReceipt

Receipts

Every claim with the verbatim sentence it came from. Tap a claim to see its sources.

Confirmed 3

Reported by at least two independent outlets, or by the actor itself.

Total midterm election spending is expected to reach $11.9bn, up from $8.9bn in 2022. Confirmed by 2Al Jazeera, The Times of India · #
In the 2024 election cycle, leadership PACs gave $79.3m to federal candidates. Confirmed by 2Al Jazeera, The Times of India · #
Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim member of the United States Senate. Confirmed by 2Al Jazeera, The Times of India · #

One source 18

Only one outlet so far. Shown, never hidden — treat with care.

El-Sayed campaigned openly on his Muslim faith and faced sustained attacks over his religion. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
The name "Habibi PAC" comes from the Arabic word "habibi", meaning "my beloved". One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
El-Sayed is a Michigan Democrat. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
  • “Federal Election Commission filings demonstrate that the Michigan Democrat established the leadership PAC, an entity legally distinct from his primary campaign committee and designed specifically to raise funds for political allies across the country.”

    TRT WorldState mediaReportsUS Senator-elect El-Sayed launches 'Habibi PAC' after Michigan victory

El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race by a wide margin. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
President Donald Trump labelled El-Sayed a "jihadist". One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
El-Sayed said "JD, habibi" to Vice-President JD Vance during his victory address. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
  • “El-Sayed notably employed the phrase to address US Vice-President JD Vance during his victory address, remarking:"JD, habibi," before highlighting the constitutional irony that Vance will be required to administer his oath of office when Congress convenes in January.”

    TRT WorldState mediaReportsUS Senator-elect El-Sayed launches 'Habibi PAC' after Michigan victory

Federal Election Commission filings show El-Sayed established the leadership PAC to raise funds for political allies. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
  • “Federal Election Commission filings demonstrate that the Michigan Democrat established the leadership PAC, an entity legally distinct from his primary campaign committee and designed specifically to raise funds for political allies across the country.”

    TRT WorldState mediaReportsUS Senator-elect El-Sayed launches 'Habibi PAC' after Michigan victory

Abdul El-Sayed launched a political action committee named "Habibi PAC" days after winning his Senate race. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
  • “United States Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has launched a political action committee named"Habibi PAC", days after winning his Senate race, signaling intentions to exert enduring influence across Democratic politics beyond his election campaign, according toThe Hill.”

    TRT WorldState mediaReportsUS Senator-elect El-Sayed launches 'Habibi PAC' after Michigan victory

El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers after Trump, Vance and Ted Cruz called him a "jihadist". One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Dark money contributions had already crossed $1.47 billion, exceeding the previous record of $1.35 billion. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
El-Sayed told JD Vance he is constitutionally obligated to swear him in in January. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
El-Sayed said in his victory speech: "The many can win." One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Abdul El-Sayed registered a political action committee named Habibi PAC with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. One source: The Times of IndiaThe Times of India · #
Outside spending is projected to hit $3.9bn, an 85 percent increase on 2022. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
  • “El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, defeated Republican Mike Rogers after a campaign in which Trump, Vance and Senator Ted Cruz questioned his loyalty, called him a “jihadist” and attempted to link him to the Muslim Brotherhood movement, without providing any evidence.”

    Al JazeeraState mediaReportsUS Senator Abdul El-Sayed launches ‘Habibi’ political action committee

El-Sayed told JD Vance: "JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January." One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
A Federal Election Commission filing dated Thursday shows Habibi PAC is registered as a leadership PAC sponsored by El-Sayed. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
Abdul El-Sayed launched a political action committee called Habibi PAC. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #

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Why Abdul El-Sayed’s ‘JD, habibi’ is going viral online

Al Jazeera ·

Why Abdul El-Sayed’s ‘JD, habibi’ is going viral online

Al Jazeera ·

All sources

3 reports from 3 outlets — with who owns each outlet and who pays for it.

Al Jazeera State media

QatarOwner: Al Jazeera Media NetworkPaid by: funded by the State of Qatar

The Times of India Private

IndiaOwner: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (The Times Group)Paid by: advertising + circulation

TRT World State media

TürkiyeOwner: Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)Paid by: Turkish state budget + advertising

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3 confirmed · 18 one-source3 outletsUpdated