Judge Clears Mahmood’s Path to Hamtramck Mayoralty
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen McCarthy ruled on October 30 that Muhith Mahmood qualifies as a Hamtramck resident for purposes of holding elected office. She also directed the county’s election canvass panel to formally approve 37 disputed absentee ballots from the 2025 mayoral election. The ruling removes a legal obstacle, but the results have not yet been certified, and no date for certification has been announced.
The ballots were discovered at the city clerk’s office following the election and were left out of the initial count amid concerns about their handling. After a court order to count them, the board reviewed the ballots and announced unofficial totals of 2,089 votes for Mahmood and 2,077 for Alharbi. Alharbi has held the mayor’s office since January 2026.
The board had not certified the revised totals while Mahmood’s residency was being challenged. At a hearing, Alharbi’s lawyer sought a 30-day delay to gather more evidence, while Mahmood’s lawyer asked the court to dismiss the case. McCarthy rejected both requests.
Witnesses discussed Mahmood’s connections to homes in Hamtramck and Troy. Testimony also included claims that his cellphone was mostly located in Troy during 2024 and an investigation by a former Hamtramck police officer who said he could not verify Mahmood’s residency. Mahmood has said he lives in Hamtramck and has a second home.
McCarthy found the evidence insufficient to overturn Mahmood’s residency claim. She noted that his spouse and children make their main home in Troy and that he owns homes in other cities, but said those circumstances did not disqualify him from office. The canvassers must now certify the ballots.
Judge Upholds Hamtramck Voters’ Ballots and Mahmood’s Eligibility
A Wayne County judge has rejected an effort to keep 37 disputed ballots from determining Hamtramck’s mayoral race. On October 30, Judge Kathleen McCarthy found Muhith Mahmood met the city’s residency requirement and ordered the county canvassers to certify the ballots, which give him an unofficial 2,089-2,077 lead over Adam Alharbi.
The ballots were discovered at the municipal clerk’s office following the 2025 election and were not included in the initial certified results. Mahmood challenged their exclusion, contending that election officials’ mistakes should not deprive voters of having their ballots included in the count. After a court order led to a count, the ballots changed the unofficial outcome. Alharbi has been serving as mayor since January 2026.
The residency challenge had held up certification. Alharbi’s lawyer asked the judge for another 30 days to gather evidence, while Mahmood’s lawyer sought dismissal. McCarthy rejected both requests and concluded there was not enough evidence to disqualify Mahmood.
Witnesses testified about Mahmood’s homes in Hamtramck and Troy. State police testimony described cellphone data placing his phone mostly in Troy in 2024, and a former city police officer said he could not verify that Mahmood lived in Hamtramck. Mahmood has maintained that Hamtramck is his home, while acknowledging he has another residence.
McCarthy said that his family’s primary residence in Troy and his ownership of homes elsewhere did not bar him from holding office. The ruling clears the legal hurdle, but the canvassers have not yet certified the results; no certification date has been announced.
Residency Ruling Clears Mahmood, but Ballots Still Need Certification
A Wayne County judge has cleared Muhith Mahmood’s residency challenge, leaving the disputed ballot count to decide who leads Hamtramck. On October 30, Judge Kathleen McCarthy ruled Mahmood eligible to hold the mayor’s office and ordered county canvassers to certify 37 ballots that give him an unofficial 2,089-2,077 advantage over Adam Alharbi.
The ballots were discovered at the city clerk’s office following the 2025 election and were left out of the original certified totals because of concerns about their handling. They were counted after a court order, but the canvassers held off on certification while Mahmood’s residency remained in court. Alharbi has served as mayor since January 2026.
The residency dispute raised questions about Mahmood’s ties to Hamtramck and Troy. Witnesses addressed both residences, and testimony included state police information that his cellphone was mostly in Troy during 2024. A former Hamtramck police officer said he could not verify Mahmood’s residency. Mahmood has said he lives in Hamtramck and has a second home.
McCarthy ruled the evidence did not justify overturning his residency claim. She acknowledged that Mahmood’s wife and children primarily live in Troy and that he owns homes in other cities, but found those facts did not prevent him from holding elected office. Alharbi’s lawyer had requested more time to gather evidence; the judge denied that request, as well as Mahmood’s request to dismiss the case.
The ruling settles the legal challenge, not the final election paperwork. The canvassers still must certify the ballots, and no date has been announced.
Reported by CBS Detroit, ClickOnDetroit WDIV, FOX 2 Detroit.
