Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed’s new Habibi PAC can support other candidates, following a campaign in which Al Jazeera says he pledged to curb political money.
A Thursday filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) identifies El-Sayed as the PAC’s sponsor and classifies it as a leadership committee. Such committees are separate from a politician’s campaign and can spend to support or oppose candidates.
Al Jazeera reported that the committee’s launch followed El-Sayed’s defeat of former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan. The outlet described limiting money’s influence in politics as a central campaign pledge. His Senate victory in Michigan positioned him to become the chamber’s first Muslim member.
OpenSecrets says lawmakers use leadership PACs to build support among colleagues and improve their prospects for party leadership or committee positions. The groups gave $79.3 million to federal candidates in the 2024 election cycle. Most went to Republicans, while a Democratic leadership PAC was the largest single donor.
OpenSecrets’ analysis of FEC data estimates total spending in the 2026 midterms at $11.9 billion, compared with $8.9 billion in 2022. It also projects $3.9 billion in outside spending, 85% above the 2022 level.
