Breaking news … Mayoral election now has potential of being a major scandal

There could be an upset in last week’s mayoral election where Muhith Mahmood is declared the winner. The county is now tabulating the results.

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck’s election took yet another twist and turn, with the results of the mayoral election now in question.
And what is developing has the potential of blowing up to be a major scandal. Detroit area media outlets have been digging into what’s developing here.
Last week, mayoral candidate Adam Alharbi, who won with a slim lead of 11 votes over his opponent Muhith Mahmood, filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court alleging that Mahmood is not qualified to hold office in the city if the county comes out with a different outcome.
Alharbi is accusing Mahmood of not being a resident and actually living with his wife and family in Troy.
At the same time, the results of the election are in the hands of Wayne County, which is going over the results and tabulating 150 absentee ballots that had to be “cured” by voters.
The 150 ballots were held up because voters either forgot to sign their ballot’s envelope or the signature on the envelope did not match the signature on file.
The voters had a small window in which to respond to correct the errors: within three days. That deadline is set by state law.
It’s not immediately known how many of those ballots in question were forwarded to the county. The county has said election results will be announced on Nov. 18

According to sources, there is a chance that the mayoral election results could change from Alharbi being the winner in last week’s election to Mahmood.

The matter has also been referred to the Secretary of State, which oversees elections.

On top of that, City Clerk Rana Faraj has been suspended, according to sources. No other details were released.
In recent years, Hamtramck’s election results have repeatedly been put into question because of allegations of ballot harvesting by candidates or their supporters.
Councilmember Mohammed Hassan is facing felony charges of election fraud from the 2023 primary election. Councilmember Muhtasin Sadman was also charged with election fraud in that election but those charges, for the moment at least, were dropped because two key witnesses failed to appear at his preliminary examination.
In the meantime, Alharbi is relying on a past investigation by the city that alleges Mahmood, who is finishing his first term on council but decided to run for mayor instead of another council term, does not live in the city.
Mahmood has not yet been charged over his residency status.
The Review reached out to Mahmood via email and Facebook messenger, for comment about the lawsuit but he has not responded.
Alharbi said he decided not to challenge Mahmood’s qualifications to be on the ballot when he filed because “I was consistently told that the city would disqualify him based on the findings in the official investigation report.
“I also assumed the voters in Hamtramck would reject a non-resident with a background of voter fraud. I did not realize the extent to which organized absentee ballot harvesting could sway the final election outcome.”
Asked if he had additional evidence that Mahmood does not live in the city, Alharbi said: “I have the testimony of his neighbors. The house he claims to live in is just four houses away from my own, and I can personally confirm he does not reside at that address. Everyone knows he doesn’t live there.”
Mahmood has steadfastly denied the accusation and says he does indeed reside in the city as a resident.
He does admit he visits his wife and family in Troy.
Councilmember Abu Musa, who was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s election and is also suspected of ballot harvesting, has also been accused of actually living outside Hamtramck, in this case, in Warren with his family.
Musa has denied ballot harvesting and insists, like Mahmood, that he lives in the city but visits his family in Warren.
Musa faces no charges of election fraud or being a non-resident.
Back In May, the council considered a resolution to declare both Musa’s and Mahmood’s positions on council “vacant” because of accusations that they are not residents.
The vote also included removing them from the August primary election ballot.
The council, including Musa and Mahmood, voted not to kick them off the council, nor the primary ballot.
Alharbi says his attorney has asked Wayne County Circuit Court to speed up hearing his lawsuit. He said he would like to see the election be done over.
“It’s only fair to let the people decide,” he said.
Alharbi , who was endorsed by Mayor Amer Ghalib (who did not seek re-election, hoping to become the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait),was the top vote-getter in August’s primary election, winning by about 900 votes over second-place finisher Mahmood.

Posted Nov. 10, 2025