Incumbent mayor Walter W. Austin did not stand for reelection.

Forward was then elected mayor with a majority of the votes in the runoff.

Incumbent Mayor Walter W. Austin did not stand for reelection.

On March 22, 1932, John F. Forward Jr. came in first in the primary election with 47.0 percent of the votes, followed by William E. Harper in second place with 20.9 percent.

Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, Forward and Harper advanced to a runoff election.