Abdullah Hammoud

Abdullah H. Hammoud (; born March 19, 1990) is an American politician serving as the 7th mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Hammoud had previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 15th district from 2017 to 2021.

Hammoud is the first Arab-American, Lebanese American and first Muslim mayor of Dearborn as well as the second-youngest mayor in the city's history. His election is considered historic as the city is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern and Muslim populations per capita in the United States.

Early life and education

Hammoud was born in Dearborn, Michigan, to a Lebanese Shia Muslim family. His father worked as a truck driver and his mother, who had not completed high school, further pursued her education and became a small-business owner. Hammoud earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and genetics from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and a Master of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business, on the same campus. Hammoud's dreams of medical school were cut short following numerous rejections, thus redirecting him to work for Professor Marianne Udow-Williams at the Center for Health and Research Transformation at the University of Michigan. In the midst of his work, Hammoud took a sabbatical so he could volunteer with the United Nations in Jordan. Upon his return to Michigan, Hammoud found employment with the Henry Ford Health System. Tragedy struck when his then 25 year old brother, Ali, passed away. Ali had completed the business program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and became one of the youngest directors of Quicken Loans. Ali's death inspired Hammoud to run for the 15th District Seat in the Michigan State House.

Michigan House of Representatives

At 26, then a healthcare advisor at the Henry Ford Health System, when Hammoud decided to run for office following the unexpected death of his older brother, propelling him to become a patron for his community. Hammoud defeated Republican nominee Terrance Guido Gerin, a WWE professional wrestler in the general election for Michigan's 15th District, by a margin of 61% to 38%.
Upon his election, Hammoud became the first Arab American and Muslim to represent the 15th district, which was a monumental moment for state and national politics. Hammoud concentrated on environmental issues, healthcare access, criminal justice reform, education, economic opportunity, workers' rights, and social justice during his time in office.

Tenure

Abdullah Hammoud’s environmental protection efforts were guided through his work as a member of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters in 2014 and the work he had done under a lecturer at the University of Michigan's department of Health Management and Policy. This blend of public health and environmental experience were utilized to shape his goals during his time as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. Hammoud focused on the air and water quality in the district, especially the Southend neighborhood, “a predominantly low income Arab American”, which has been affected since the 1950s by industrial pollution from the automobile industry, steel corporations, and natural gas plants. Hammoud’s primary legislative focus was on the ''reduction of pollution'' and ''strengthening of environmental regulations'' in the area he represented. He advocated for legislation in accordance with this such as the ''Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act'', ''HB 5143 & 5680'' (solar tax incentive), ''SB 1244'' (contaminated site cleanup), ''HB 4465 & 4069'' (property tax exemptions for alternative energy), and the ''HB 4444'' (Broken Bottle Bill), aimed at improving recycling practices through the reduction of waste.

Hammoud backed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

When President Joe Biden visited a Ford factory in Dearborn during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Hammoud gave him a letter calling for a ceasefire and a re-evaluation of the Israel–United States relationship.

Mayor of Dearborn

2021 Campaign

On January 25, 2021, Hammoud announced he would run for Mayor of Dearborn. His campaign focused on a five-part proposal aiming to aid the working class. This proposal centered on lowering property taxes, promoting new development in housing and commercial industries, increasing city funds, and improving the city's operations. He also proposed plans to address issues concerning city pensions, infrastructure, driving, healthcare, economic recovery after the pandemic, and two issues the election had a large focus on: policing and flooding.

During the repeated flooding of Dearborn in the summer of 2021, Hammoud organized around 600 volunteers to assist in cleaning up damages done to homes in the area.  His campaign also discussed changes to the police force and increasing mental health resources for the public.  This would include relocating police resources to shift focus from non-moving traffic violations to more serious violations, namely reckless driving and speeding.  A statistic from his campaign reported that Black drivers were given 60% of the total non-moving traffic citations from 2010-2019.

Election night results on the August 3 primary showed him in first with 50% followed by Susan Dabaja with 15.6% and Tom Tafelski with 13.5%. Hammoud finished first and he advanced to a November 2 general election against Gary Woronchak. In the November election, Hammoud won the race for mayor with 54.6% of the vote. This made him the first Arab American and first Muslim mayor of Dearborn, as well as being the only new mayor in 14 years. His term began January 1, 2022.

Tenure

One of Hammoud's first actions as mayor of Dearborn was to establish a local health department. The city became the first in Michigan to set up such a department voluntarily. Hammoud also sought reforms to the city's police force, including the elimination of employment policies prohibiting beards, tattoos and loose hair, in an effort to increase diversity. In addition, he instructed officers to focus on dangerous traffic violations rather than stopping vehicles for suspicious activity. Hammoud credits his reforms as having led to a 50 percent decrease in the proportion of tickets issued to Black drivers and a 10 percent decrease in the number of car accidents in the city.

Hammoud has also pushed for investments in water and sewer infrastructure, parks, and green spaces. Around the start of his term, he instructed the city to conduct an analysis of its water infrastructure over a span of two years to assist with solving the flooding problems in the Dearborn area. In the meantime, Hammoud and the city of Dearborn have sought grants from both state and federal agencies and have created multiple proposals, one such as the Colson Palmer Stormwater Line Project. This project involves the construction of new infrastructure around that stormwater line, as well as removing sediment and debris from it, as Hammoud stated that it decreases the line's capacity by approximately 50%. They claim these changes could help prevent water spillage into unwanted areas when the stormline becomes overwhelmed. He has also advocated for a reduction in available parking requirements for new construction projects as part of another flood mitigation strategy for the city.

National Issues

2024 Presidential Election

Hammoud gained national attention as the mayor of Dearborn, home to the largest Arab-American community in the U.S., with over 110,000 Arab-American residents. In the 2024 elections, Dearborn and its neighboring cities played a pivotal role in determining Michigan's electoral votes. The area's high voter turnout and distinct political voice, especially among Arab-American voters significantly influenced the state's overall outcome, making it a crucial battleground.

During early 2024, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud supported a campaign encouraging Dearborn residents to vote "uncommitted" in Michigan's Democratic primary. The goal was to send a message to President Biden about his vulnerability in this key swing state ahead of the November election. The strategy highlighted frustration within the Arab-American community, particularly regarding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. In Dearborn, "uncommitted" votes outnumbered those for Biden by a 17% margin.

Because of the Biden administration's stance on the Gaza war, Mayor Hammoud declined an invitation to meet with Biden campaign officials before the president's withdrawal from the 2024 US presidential race. Explaining his decision on X, Hammoud wrote, "I will not entertain conversations about elections while we watch a live-streamed genocide backed by our government."

In the months leading up to the primary elections, Hammoud took a critical stance on the 2024 U.S. presidential race. He voiced frustration with both major parties' approaches to Middle Eastern policies, particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Consequently, Hammoud chose not to endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.

In an interview just days after the election results regarding his decision to not endorse a candidate in the Presidential election, Hammoud pointed out that no vote is guaranteed to any party and each vote must be earned. Hammoud then stated that Arab and Muslim voters should not be blamed for choosing not to support a party that had abandoned them and funded the genocide of their families.

Gaza war

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud advocates for a clear path toward establishing a Palestinian state. He has called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, emphasizing the toll the Gaza war has taken on Palestinian-American residents in Dearborn, many of whom have lost family members to the violence.

Hammoud frequently uses his platform to raise awareness of the struggles faced by Palestinians and to address the emotional impact the conflict has on his community. He aligns with initiatives such as those led by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, which call for a ceasefire.

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, along with other Dearborn community leaders, declined a meeting with President Biden's campaign staff in early November 2023. The rejection came amid growing protests from the Arab-American community over the Biden administration's handling of the Gaza war. Instead of engaging with campaign representatives, Hammoud chose to meet with senior White House policy officials, to demand changes in U.S. policy regarding Gaza.

On November 20, 2024, Hammoud vowed to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief for war crimes if they enter Dearborn’s city jurisdictions. This vow came after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants.

Hammoud spoke at a pro-Lebanon rally in 2024 alongside activist Osama Siblani, where "death to Israel" chants were made and terrorist Hassan Nasrallah was praised. At the 2024 Quds Day rally in Dearborn, Michigan, some members of the crowd chanted "death to America" in response to anti-America rhetoric by one of the speakers. Hammoud later said the chants were "unacceptable and contrary to the heart of this city."

Personal life

Hammoud is married to Fatima Beydoun, a physician. In December 2021, they welcomed their first child, Mariam. Hammoud often shares that envisioning his daughter’s future in Dearborn inspires his daily decision-making.

As a practicing Muslim, Hammoud observes and celebrates Ramadan each year alongside millions of Muslims across the U.S. During Ramadan, he hosts weekly "Ramadan Nights" events in Dearborn, featuring food trucks and activities for the community.

At the conclusion of Ramadan, Hammoud celebrates Eid al-Fitr with his family. He made history as the first mayor in the U.S. to establish Eid as a paid holiday, emphasizing his commitment to representing and celebrating the diverse cultures of his city.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammoud, Abdullah
1990 births
21st-century mayors of places in Michigan
American mayors of Middle Eastern descent
Asian-American state legislators in Michigan
American Shia Muslims
American people of Lebanese descent
Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Living people
Mayors of Dearborn, Michigan
Ross School of Business alumni
University of Michigan School of Public Health alumni
Muslims from Michigan
21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature