Overview
In contrast to other governorates, half of the Muharraq MPs didn’t stand in 2022. Mohammed al-Abassi (3rd Muharraq), Isa al-Kooheji (4th), Ammar al-Qambar (7th) and Yousef al-Dhawadi all stood down.
Incumbent MPs Ibrahim al-Nafeei (2nd) and Khalid Saleh Bu-Anq (5th) made it through to the second round, while MP Hesham al-Asheeri (6th) won his contest outright. MP Hamad al-Kooheji was knocked into fourth place in 1st Muharraq.
Similar to other governorates, a large number of first-round candidates are entirely new faces, making it likely that several Muharraq representatives in the incoming Parliament will be new figures. For example, in 7th Muharraq, with the current MP standing down, there were an astonishing 18 candidates rivalling to take his place.
Muharraq has tended to be quite a traditionalist part of Bahrain. The few women candidates who have stood in past contests haven’t tended to perform well. This continued to be the case in 2022, with no women making it into the second round, despite five women standing in 5th Muharraq and two out of three candidates being female in 6th Muharraq.
Two MPs from earlier parliaments, Samir Khadim and Abdulrahman Bu-Ali, stood unsuccessfully against each other yet again in 8th Muharraq; and the Salafist former MP Ali al-Muqla changed his constituency to 5th Muharraq (from 7th), but nevertheless failed to make it into the second round.
In the past, several constituencies in Muharraq were seen as highly competitive for the Islamist political societies, yet they hardly made a showing in the 2022 contest.
Results:
1st: Second round runoff between Mohammed al-Husseini and Isam al-Alawi.
2nd: Second round runoff between Ibrahim al-Nafeei (incumbent MP) and Hamad al-Dawi.
3rd: Second round runoff between Muhammad al-Alawi and Abdulkarim al-Emadi.
4th: Second round runoff between Hisham al-Awadhi and Ali Hassan Jassim.
5th: Second round runoff between Khalid Saleh Bu-Anq (incumbent MP) and Ahmed Buhazza.
6th: Hesham al-Asheeri (incumbent MP) outright first-round winner.
7th: Second round runoff between Othman Sharif al-Rayes and Abdullah al-Dhaen.
8th: Ahmed al-Musalam outright first-round winner.
1st Muharraq
Second round runoff between Mohammed al-Husseini and Esam al-Alawi.
1st Muharraq has always tended to be a highly competitive constituency, and this was the case again in 2022 with 12 candidates. Along with incumbent, Hamad al-Kooheji, cleric Mohammed al-Husseini and former municipal councillor Mohammed al-Mutawa also competed in 2018.
Mohammed Husseini and Esam al-Alawi made it through to the 2022 second round with 27% (2505 votes) and 18% (1645) respectively. Abdalaziz al-Manai gained 12% of the vote, and standing MP Hamad al-Kooheji was knocked into fourth place with 1078 votes.
Areas covered: Busaiteen
Number of first round candidates: 12
Voter demographic
Busaiteen is a proud and traditional Sunni locality on the northwest coast of Muharraq. Islamist parties in the past did well in this constituency. Voters tend to look for candidates who can vocally advocate their interests at a national level and support livelihoods, like the fishing industry. This is invariably a strongly competitive constituency, often with a substantial number of high-calibre candidates; often a mixture of popular Islamist figures, local luminaries and younger activists.
2nd Muharraq
Second round runoff between Ibrahim al-Nafeei (incumbent MP) and Hamad al-Doy.
In 2018, MP Ibrahim al-Hammadi lost out to new candidate Ibrahim al-Nafeei in round two. In the 2022 first round, Al-Nafeei faced off against four new candidates.
Al-Nafeei and Hamad al-Doy both gained around 32% of the vote (1455 and 1413 votes respectively) to make it through to the second round. Mohammed al-Jowder also performed well with 22% of the vote.
Areas covered: Muharraq central
Number of first round candidates: 5
Voter demographic
This constituency lies in the densely-populated central town of Muharraq and in geographical size is one of the smallest constituencies in Bahrain. This area has tended to favour Sunni Islamist candidates. Media surveys of voters have found voter priorities in this constituency to include housing, living standards, education and improving public infrastructure.
3rd Muharraq
Second round runoff between Mohammad al-Alawi and Abdulkarim al-Emadi.
MP Mohammed al-Abassi is not running for the 2022 elections, leaving six new candidates to compete against each other.
In a closely-fought first-round 2022 battle, Mohammed al-Alawi and Abdulkarim al-Emadi made it into the second round with 37% and 33% of the vote (amounting to 1646 and 1485 votes respectively).
Areas covered: Muharraq central, Qalali
Number of first round candidates: 6
Voter demographic
This is a staunchly loyalist area sprawling across the heart of Muharraq island. The district expanded as part of the 2014 boundary changes to take in two blocs from the 1st Muharraq constituency and parts of Qalali.
4th Muharraq
Second round runoff between Hisham al-Awadhi and Ali Hassan Jassim.
The long-standing prominent MP Isa-al-Kooheji is not running for the 2022 elections. Hisham al-Awadhi, who came second to al-Kooheji in 2018 is worth watching.
In the event, Hisham al-Awadhi won 43% of the vote (1955 votes). Ali Jassim also made it through to the second round with 21% of the vote (936), narrowly followed by Nada al-Mansouri with 17% of the vote.
Areas covered: Muharraq central
Number of first round candidates: 5
Voter demographic
These urban areas of Muharraq island tend to favour independent loyalist candidates. However, a dense patchwork of local communities have to be taken into account; Hawala, Bahrani, Ajam and tribal Arab. This is one of the oldest areas of Muharraq island. There are many critical social issues needing addressing including poverty, unemployment and poor quality of some older housing.
5th Muharraq
Second round runoff between Khalid Saleh Bu-Anq (incumbent MP) and Ahmed Buhazza.
In 2022’s first round MP Khalid Bu-Anq (former municipal councillor) competed against former MP Ali al-Muqla, who previously represented 7th Muharraq as a member of the Salafist society, Asalah.
Bu-Anq came away with 38% (5150 votes) of the first-round vote, followed by Ahmed Buhazza (22%, 2940 votes), beating Al-Muqla into third place with just 8%.
This constituency in 2022 is remarkable for having five women facing off against each other, in contrast with other Muharraq constituencies where women have tended to be very few. Noora al-Khatir and Hanadi al-Jowder have competed previously. In the event, Hanadi and Noura won fourth and fifth places in a crowded contest.
Areas covered: Northeast Muharraq; Amwaj Islands; Qalali
Number of first round candidates: 14
Voter demographic
Lying to the northeast corner of Muharraq, this large constituency has the smallest number of registered voters in the Governorate. Much of this constituency is built on recently reclaimed land, including Amwaj islands. As a result, the population is predominantly middle class and cosmopolitan. However, some of the southern parts of this constituency include working class areas of Qalali. An Al-Watan newspaper 2014 survey for 5th Muharraq found widespread frustration amongst younger people in this area over poor housing provision and a perceived lack of action by previous parliaments.
6th Muharraq
Hesham al-Asheeri (incumbent MP) outright first-round winner.
In 2018 Hesham al-Asheeri, won outright the seat which for many years was held by Abbas al-Madhi. Al-Asheeri has succeeded in a first-round win again in 2022, with 63% of the vote (1852 votes). He was running against two female contestants, Asrar al-Asheeri and Muna al-Haiki, who gained 649 and 433 votes.
Areas covered: Dair & Samaheej
Number of first round candidates: 3
Voter demographic
Prior to 2011 this district had been held by Al-Wefaq, before being won by an independent candidate Abbas al-Madhi in the by-election that year. The significant opposition population has sometimes led to lower turnouts. However, several figures from the local Shia community have spoken out against boycotting.
7th Muharraq
Second round runoff between Former MP Othman Sharif al-Rayes and Abdullah al-Dhaen.
MP Sami Qambar is not running for the 2022 elections. With an astonishing 18 candidates in the contest, it was difficult to predict who will make it through to the second round.
Othman Sharif al-Rayes and Abdullah al-Dhaen gained 29% and 16% of the vote (3073 and 1681 votes) respectively, making it into the second round.
Areas covered: Arad
Number of first round candidates: 18
Voter demographic
This relatively small constituency in terms of land area has the highest number of registered voters out of all the constituencies in Bahrain, at 13,204. Arad has a predominantly Sunni working-class demographic. Commentators in previous elections were divided on whether the contest would be dominated by the political groupings or whether independent and technocratic figures would be more appealing to the voters. Ultimately the second round in 2018 ended up being dominated by candidates from Sunni Islamist societies, Asalah and Minbar; which Ali al-Muqla from Asalah won.
8th Muharraq
Ahmed al-Musalam outright first-round winner.
MP Yousif al-Dhawadi is not running for the 2022 elections, yet former MPs Samir Khadim and Abdulrahman Bu-Ali re-entered the race; offering voters the choice of whether to opt for a familiar face, or offer an opportunity to one of the many other new faces.
In a stunning 2022 first-round win, Ahmed al-Musalam, gained 52% of the vote, with 7711 votes – the highest score nationwide. Musalam is a popular figure from a footballing background and a well-known and highly-regarded family. In a vigorous campaign he pledged to support pensioners and work to improve standards of living.
In the 2022 first-round vote, former MPs Bu-Ali and Khadim only gained 20% (2885 votes) and 10% (1502) respectively.
Areas covered: Southern Muharraq; Hidd
Number of first round candidates: 9
Voter demographic
Hidd contains a large industrial area, substantial port and customs facilities, as well as boat-building and repair industries. There is a mixed working-class population and many new residential areas. There is also a north-south divide in this locality, which commentators have noted as a strong factor in who voters get behind.