Judge rules Muhith Mahmood meets residency for Hamtramck mayor

Judge Rules Muhith Mahmood Meets Hamtramck Residency Requirement

A Wayne County judge ruled Friday that Muhith Mahmood meets Hamtramck’s residency requirements to hold elected office, clearing the primary legal hurdle standing between him and the city’s mayoral seat. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen McCarthy issued the decision after a legal dispute that stretched nearly a year following the November 2025 election, clickondetroit.com reported.

The controversy stems from 37 contested ballots discovered inside open envelopes in the Hamtramck city clerk’s office the day after the election. Judge McCarthy ordered those disputed ballots to be counted in September. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers reviewed and verified them on Oct. 16, producing unofficial results that gave Mahmood 2,089 votes compared to incumbent Mayor Adam Alharbi’s 2,077 votes.

Court Rejects Challenges to Residency Claims

Alharbi, who has served as mayor since January 2026, challenged Mahmood’s eligibility by questioning his residency in Hamtramck. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers initially withheld certification of the updated vote totals due to the pending lawsuit.

Judge McCarthy concluded there was insufficient evidence to overturn Mahmood’s residency claim during an Oct. 22 court hearing. In her Oct. 30 order, the judge noted that while Mahmood owns properties in other cities and his family primarily lives in Troy, those factors do not legally bar him from holding elective office in Hamtramck.

As of today, it appears that Mahmood is, in fact, the rightful mayor of Hamtramck, McCarthy wrote in her order.

Wayne County Board of Canvassers Awaits Certification Schedule

Friday’s ruling dissolves the court-ordered injunction preventing the election outcome from moving forward, but it does not officially certify the vote counts. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers must now formally certify the results to conclude the election process.

The board has not yet announced a specific date or timeline for when it will meet to certify the 37 contested ballots and the final mayoral tally.