Chicago: After voters chose five Muslims to run in the November elections for three city council seats, Hamtramck, Michigan—America's only city with an all-Muslim government—will likely continue to have a Muslim majority.
Nine candidates competed in the first round of the nonpartisan election on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, including three incumbent council members, eight Muslims, and one white ethnic Christian with a long history of service in Michigan's sizable Arab American community. Only 17% of the registered voters actually cast ballots on that particular election day, which indicates a very low turnout.
Despite the controversies, longtime Michigan political observer Kyle Melinn, editor of the online MIRS site, which covers Michigan elections, told Arab News that he does not anticipate that Hamtramck's low voter turnout from last week will increase when voters go to the polls again on November 7, 2023.
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"In terms of attendance, I don't believe it will be significantly higher. You notice a little bit more of an uptick in other communities. On The Ray Hanania Radio Show on the US Arab Radio Network, which is sponsored by Arab News, Melinn speculated that the percentage might rise to 20 or 21 percent.
But if these candidates are unable to motivate voters to cast ballots (in the Aug. 8 primary election), it is difficult to predict that they will do so in the general election in November, barring any significant changes. I predict that the race will be extremely close, and each candidate will have to put in a lot of effort to stand out. However, I don't necessarily see a significant change there.
At ArabNews.com, you can access the podcast of The Ray Hanania Radio Show.
Six of the candidates who ran in the Aug. 8 election—three incumbent council members and three freshmen, including two Muslims and one Christian—won, and they will compete in a run-off election for the three council seats on Nov. 7.
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Hamtramck attracted a lot of attention after Muslim Amer Ghalib, a first-time candidate, easily defeated 16-year incumbent Mayor Karen Majewski and three Muslim council members in the elections two years ago. Amer Ghalib now leads an all-Muslim city council.
Mohammed Hassan, Nayeem Leon Choudhury, and Mohammed Al-Somiri, three incumbent council members running for re-election, competed against six opponents in the primary this past week: Sari Ahmed, Ruhel Amin, Nasr Saleh Hussain, Muhtasin Rahman Sadman, Yousuf Osman Saed, and Lynn Blasey.
Choudhury and Al-Somiri, two incumbents on the city council, took first and second place, respectively, with Blasey coming in third. Hassan, a current council member, finished just four votes behind Blasey in fourth place.
The non-Muslim Blasey finished third in the primary elections on August 8 behind two incumbent council members and just ahead of the third. She claimed that if elected, all rights, including Muslim rights, would be strengthened.
"There are numerous reasons why Hamtramck should support my candidature. I'm devoted to fostering community, and I see running as a continuation of my ongoing volunteer work. I am seen by many as representing a diverse viewpoint, regardless of my culture, religion, gender, level of education, etc. The fact that I finished third in the primary elections is proof that Hamtramck residents want me to represent them on the city council
"I actively work to build bridges between all of our communities and have a track record of working towards solutions to our collective challenges, so my position on our city council with a majority of Muslims should be seen as an asset. We have the ability to show the country and the rest of the world how we can cooperate by working together.
Hamtramck would lose its distinction as the only Muslim-governed city in America if Blasey were to win; five Muslims ran against her, splitting the vote. But she also disagrees with Mayor Ghalib's choice to outlaw the LGBTQ flag's display on public property, according to reports in the media.
Ghalib forbade the display of the LGBTQ flag as well as any other special interest flags on Hamtramck government property while denying that this constituted discrimination. Despite the fact that Islam, like other religions, does not accept the LGBTQ lifestyle, Ghalib said he respects the rights of all people.
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'I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you as you voted for me in the pre-primary city council election that was held on August 8, 2023,' Choudhury, a Muslim from Bangladesh, told his followers. Additionally, I want to thank the members of my committee and the leaders who put in countless hours during the election campaign. I'm hoping we can maintain this momentum through the upcoming general election on November 7, 2023. Thank you all so much once more.
The mayor and six council members make up Hamtramck's city council. The mayor can only vote on ordinances (laws) and to break ties when the council members are evenly divided. The council members vote on all issues.