Judge denies emergency request to halt certifying Hamtramck mayoral election

Hamtramck — A Wayne County judge on Monday denied a request for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the Wayne County Board of Canvassers from certifying a candidate who may contest losing the city's Nov. 4 mayoral election by 11 votes.

The request for the restraining order was made by the attorney for apparent Mayor-elect Adam Alharbi, who is suing his rival, City Council member Muhith Mahmood, claiming Mahmood lives outside of Hamtramck and is not eligible to run for city office. Mahmood is considering challenging his razor-thin loss based on questions about absentee ballots.

The restraining order request asked Wayne County Circuit Judge Patricia Perez Fresard to prevent the Board of Canvassers from certifying the election, should the board declare Mahmood the winner. The board is set to meet Tuesday to certify the results of the Nov. 4 election races and issues across the county on the last possible day under state law.

Following Fresard's decision Monday to deny the restraining order, attorneys for both sides vowed the battle over the disputed election will continue beyond an expected county decision Tuesday to certify the election.



https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2025/11/17/judge-fresard-denies-emergency-request-alharbi-halt-certifying-hamtramck-mayoral-election/87319455007/