Hamtramck Mayoral Election Results Shift, Muhith Mahmud Leads Adam Alharbi by 12 Votes

The results of Hamtramck’s mayoral election have shifted following the counting of 37 disputed ballots, with challenger Muhith Mahmud now leading incumbent Mayor Adam Alharbi by 12 votes in the unofficial tally. However, the results have not yet been officially certified as a lawsuit challenging Mahmud’s residency eligibility remains pending.

According to local news outlet Click On Detroit, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers released the revised unofficial results on Friday, October 16, after reviewing and counting the 37 disputed ballots.

The updated tally shows Mahmud with 2,089 votes, compared with 2,077 for Alharbi.

The ballots were discovered inside opened envelopes at the Hamtramck city clerk’s office the day after the November 2025 election. In September, a judge ordered that the ballots be counted. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers completed its review and verification of the ballots on Friday.

Despite the change in the unofficial results, the revised vote totals cannot yet be formally certified. A lawsuit alleging that Mahmud does not reside in Hamtramck remains pending. A hearing in the residency case is scheduled for October 22 at the Wayne County Circuit Court.

Following the announcement of the revised tally, Mahmud celebrated with supporters and expressed gratitude to Hamtramck residents and voters.

“We do not know why they could not make this decision earlier, so that we would not have had to go through these circumstances. I am grateful to the city of Hamtramck, its residents and all the voters. Thank you,” Mahmud said.

Alharbi, accompanied by his attorney, has indicated that he does not intend to concede defeat and plans to challenge the election results. He has also raised concerns about the condition of the ballots when they were discovered.

His attorney, Nabih H. Ayad, has called on federal authorities and the state attorney general to investigate the matter.

“I have said from the beginning that federal authorities should intervene in this matter. Examine it properly. Let us see whose DNA can be found on those 37 ballots. Why were the ballots opened? Who opened those 37 ballots? And where is the DNA evidence? Where are the fingerprints? We are calling on federal authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and clarify the entire matter,” Ayad said.

The Hamtramck mayoral race remains officially unresolved. Although Mahmud leads in the revised unofficial count, the outcome remains subject to the pending residency lawsuit and the formal certification of the election results.

The October 22 court hearing is expected to be an important step toward resolving the long-running dispute.