Judge Certifies Hamtramck Vote, Clearing Mahmood for Mayorship

A Wayne County judge ruled on Friday that Muhith Mahmood is a legal resident of Hamtramck, effectively ending a yearlong legal battle over his eligibility for the mayoral seat. The decision clears the path for Mahmood to take office after a disputed election result was finally certified.

Judge Kathleen McCarthy issued the ruling after hearing testimony from neighbors and reviewing evidence regarding Mahmood’s living arrangements. She determined that the evidence was insufficient to overturn his claim of residency in the city. The court ordered the Wayne County Board of Elections to certify the ballots, a step that had been blocked by litigation.

The certification includes 37 absentee ballots that were previously excluded from the official count due to a break in the chain of custody. With these votes included, the final tally shows Mahmood leading Adam Alharbi by 12 votes, with Mahmood receiving 2,089 votes to Alharbi’s 2,077. Alharbi has served as mayor since January, a tenure that continued while the residency dispute played out in circuit court.

During the hearing, Alharbi’s attorney, Nabih Ayad, asked for a 30-day adjournment to gather more evidence on Mahmood’s residency. Mahmood’s lawyer, Mark Brewer, argued for a dismissal. Judge McCarthy rejected both requests. She noted in her written order that a candidate meets residency requirements even if they sleep on a couch in the city only four days a week.

Mahmood’s residency had been challenged since April 2025, when reports suggested he was living primarily in Troy. City officials launched an investigation and referred the matter to the Michigan State Police. State police testified that Mahmood’s cellphone location data showed he was mostly in Troy in 2024. A former police officer who conducted a separate investigation under the previous city manager also testified that his residency in Hamtramck could not be verified.

Outside the courtroom on Thursday, Mahmood defended his standing in the community. He stated that his neighbors could confirm his presence and that they would not lie to support his candidacy. Alharbi maintained that Mahmood did not live in Hamtramck and that the city was aware of his residence in Troy.

The case traces back to the December 2025 election, when Alharbi initially won the race. The then-city clerk raised concerns about the handling of absentee ballots, leading the county canvassers to deadlocked 2-2 on whether to count them. Mahmood challenged that decision in court, arguing that election officials’ errors should not prevent voters from having their ballots counted.