Politics
Amer Ghalib
born 1979 · politician, health-care worker
Yemeni-born mayor of Hamtramck from 2022 to 2026, the first Arab American and first Muslim to lead the historically Polish city, and the first non-Polish mayor in a century.
- Born
Yemen- Detroit years
- 1997–
- Field
- Politics
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Ghalib immigrated from Yemen in 1997 and went to Hamtramck High School while working in a factory that made plastic car parts. He studied biology at Henry Ford Community College and Wayne State University and then worked as a health-care worker at a medical office in Hamtramck. In 2021 he defeated longtime mayor Karen Majewski with 68 percent of the vote; according to the Detroit Free Press he became the first mayor in a hundred years who was not Polish American, in the city long known as the capital of Polish Detroit. As a conservative Democrat he drew national attention for banning the Pride flag from city property, for divesting from Israel and for endorsing Donald Trump in 2024. His 2025 nomination as ambassador to Kuwait stalled amid bipartisan criticism of past statements. He left office in 2026.
Highlights
- Arrived from Yemen in 1997; graduated from Hamtramck High School
- Biology degree from Wayne State University
- Mayor of Hamtramck, 2022–2026
- First Arab American and first Muslim mayor of Hamtramck
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 2022–2026
Hamtramck City Hall
Seat of Hamtramck's city government, where Ghalib served as mayor.