Perea celebrated with supporters at the Public House Pub at Granite Park. He trailed Swearengin after the early absentee tally but would take over and hold the lead, later in the night.
Perea won by a 239-vote margin. He expected a tight race with a crowded field of 11 candidates.
Perea says he will take a few days off before resuming his campaign for the November runoff.
Perea will face Ashley Swearengin in the November runoff election.
Tuesday night Swearengin gathered with her supporters at the Downtown Club. Swearengin said she was surprised on how close the race between her and Perea was. But she always expected to take part in the November election.
Swearengin's campaign staff believes she will win the support of most of the voters who supported the other leading candidates in the race.
ABC 30 Political Analyst Tony Capozzi says Perea and Swearengin must put together a new plan before they start spending money on the November election. Capozzi said Perea had more financial support than Swearengin but that could change since the race for mayor is now between two candidates.
Both candidates could pick up support from those who backed the other candidates who are now out of the race.