Hamtramck election challenger passes residency requirements, paves way to become mayor

Hamtramck mayor challenger wins residency battle in court

Mamood challenged the results of the 2025 Hamtramck mayoral election results. Initially, Alharbi won. However, officials say 37 ballots were found in the city clerk's office in the days following the election.

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. (FOX 2) - Residents in Hamtramck now have someone they can call a mayor after a Wayne County judge ruled the challenger for the 2025 Mayoral Election met the city's residency requirements.

This comes after a recount that favored the challenger earlier in October after more ballots were discovered days after the election.

Hamtramck Mayoral Election Recount

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The ruling was made after a year of political chaos as a recount of the 2025 Hamtramck Mayoral Election favored the challenger, former city councilman Muhith Mamood, over the initial winner, Mayor Adam Alharbi.

A Wayne County Circuit judge said there needed to be a recount.

An announcement on the city's Facebook page on Oct. 19 stated that Alharbi would remain the sitting sworn mayor until the courts determine the outcome of the recount and when the election process is certified.

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On Oct. 22, a Wayne County judge held a hearing on the residency of Mamood.

During the hearing, a neighbor testified that Mamood's home was near his own and that he regularly saw him, his family and cars at the home between 2024 and 2025. Others also talked about seeing him frequently, visiting his home and seeing his wife and children there.

Meanwhile, the opposing side challenged the neighbors' credibility, noting some of them could not identify who lived upstairs, were unsure about the dates and vehicle details and had personal relationships with him.

Reactions to Hamtramck recount decision

Hamtramck mayor files 'emergency appeal' in election recount decision

A judge says Muhith Mamood met the residency requirements, paving the way for him to replace Alharbi, reversing the results of the 2025 Mayoral Election. Current Mayor Alharbi has filed an emergency appeal following that major decision from a Wayne County judge.

What's next:

Now, a judge says Mamood met the residency requirements, paving the way for him to replace Alharbi, reversing the results of the 2025 Mayoral Election.

Mahmood’s attorney, Mark Brewer, released this statement:

"This is a complete victory for the voters of Hamtramck, democracy, and Muhith Mahmood as the bogus residency case against him is dismissed and the Wayne County Board of Canvassers is ordered to certify him as Mayor of Hamtramck. This case reaffirms that Michigan voters can trust that their votes will be counted and their verdict at the ballot box will be carried out."

Meanwhile, FOX 2 spoke with former Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski, who says residents are looking for stability.

"Like everybody in Hamtramck, we were just throwing up our hands and really waiting for the whole controversy that’s gone on now for almost a year to be over," said Majewski. "The city needs stability. We need to know who’s in charge and to have confidence in that system and that person."

Alharbi has filed an emergency appeal following that major decision from a Wayne County judge.

"We are filing a request for a stay of her decision," said Alharbi's attorney, Nabih H. Ayad. "It will be filed within the next 15 minutes. We are also filing an emergency appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals saying that there’s absolutely no way it’s against the great weight of the evidence, testimony as well as we were asking our dear friend, the Attorney General, Dana Nessel. Please, attorney general look at what has been submitted to you, after the investigation has been completed."