HAMTRAMCK (WWJ) -- There's been a dramatic turn of events in the contested 2025 Hamtramck mayoral race, but the outcome is far from settled.
Counted under a court order on Friday, 37 previously uncounted ballots pushed challenger Muhith Mahmood into a narrow 12-vote lead over current Mayor Adam Alharbi.
Alharbi refuses to concede -- arguing the opened ballot envelopes violate election law -- and the county clerk’s office says results cannot be certified until a court hearing scheduled for October 22.
It's unclear what will happen to decisions made by Mayor Alharbi during his tenure if he is ultimately ousted.
The controversy dates back to the November 2025 municipal election, when initial counts showed Alharbi defeating Mahmood, a former city council member, by just 11 votes. Shortly after election day, 37 uncounted absentee ballots were discovered in the Hamtramck city clerk’s office.
The Wayne County Board of Canvassers initially declined to include the uncounted ballots due to handling procedures, leading to a months-long court battle.
While Alharbi assumed office in January 2026, appellate court rulings eventually determined that excluding the votes would disenfranchise eligible voters under the state constitution.
The dispute has remained tied up in litigation ever since, with separate legal challenges also pending regarding candidate residency requirements
Mayor Adam Alharbi refuses to concede to challenger Muhith Mahmood
Mayor Adam Alharbi refuses to concede to challenger Muhith Mahmood
