Hamtramck Politics: New Mayor Sworn In After Ballot Dispute

Muhith Mahmood is being sworn in as the mayor of Hamtramck at noon on Sunday. The ceremony is taking place at the Hamtramck Community Center, where CBS News Detroit is broadcasting the event live.

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers certified the election results earlier this week. They confirmed that Mahmood defeated Adam Alharbi after 37 disputed absentee ballots were counted. This final tally came nearly one year after the 2025 election took place.

The path to certification was obstructed by concerns raised by former Clerk Rana Faraj. She argued that the chain of custody for the absentee ballots had been broken. The Board deadlocked 2-2 on whether to include the ballots, which left them out of the initial certified results in December 2025.

Adam Alharbi was declared the winner by an 11-vote margin and took office in January 2026. Mahmood challenged that decision in court. He argued that voters should not lose their ballots due to mistakes made by election officials.

Alharbi filed a separate lawsuit accusing Mahmood of not living in Hamtramck. A court recently ruled that Mahmood is a resident of the city and is eligible to serve. Alharbi served as mayor until that legal conclusion was reached.

The new administration begins with the swearing-in ceremony. The 37 ballots that determined the outcome had been held for months before the Board reached a final decision on their inclusion.