Controversial Ballot Count in Hamtramck Mayoral Race Sparks Legal Battles
In a surprising twist to the close 2025 mayoral race in Hamtramck, the seat may switch from current Mayor Adam Alharbi to his rival Muhith Mahmood after a recent count of overlooked ballots. Despite Alharbi’s previous narrow victory, the newly counted votes have created a significant shift in the election outcome.
The Wayne County Board of Canvassers recently counted 37 ballots that were discovered the day after the November 2025 election. This addition reversed the initial results, giving former councilmember Mahmood a lead of 12 votes over Alharbi.
After the count, Mahmood expressed gratitude for the process that ensured these ballots were considered. “I want to thank all those judges who did the proper judgement to bring these peoples’ rights to the table and get [their] vote counted,” Mahmood stated. He emphasized the importance of democratic principles over the mere act of winning.
Certification of Mahmood as the winner is currently on hold. Legal proceedings are underway, as Alharbi has raised a residency challenge against Mahmood, claiming he resides in Troy, which Mahmood denies. The court will address this issue in an upcoming hearing on October 22.
Alharbi is also preparing to question the validity of the ballots, citing past allegations of election fraud in Hamtramck. He expressed concerns about the integrity of the election process, stating, “Election integrity in Hamtramck is not trusted. Those ballots are not trusted.”
The ballots in question were initially discovered by former City Clerk Rana Faraj, who noticed a discrepancy between absentee ballots returned and counted. She found 37 uncounted ballots after reviewing envelopes stored overnight in her office. The integrity of the ballots was questioned as unauthorized individuals allegedly accessed the storage area, breaching the “chain of custody” protocol.
Initially, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers refused to count these ballots. However, after Mahmood challenged this decision, the court mandated their inclusion in the vote count, following an appeal that he won.
The court’s decision left open the possibility of contesting individual ballots if they appeared to be improperly cast. Meanwhile, Faraj, who was placed on leave and later dismissed from her role, has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination.
Previously, a recount in December 2025 confirmed Alharbi’s initial win with a total of 2,071 votes against Mahmood’s 2,060. However, the additional ballots now reflect a new tally of 2,077 for Alharbi and 2,089 for Mahmood.
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