DaytonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Dayton Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting ends at 5 p.m. (Nov 2): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

Your houseWhat does your Dayton house pay?A Dayton house at the typical market value ($503,400) pays about $10,500 a year. Enter your address for your own number: property tax from the county's record, water, trash and energy, and the money dates ahead.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters choose a mayor (two-year term) and two at-large council members (four-year terms). Two incumbents and two challengers are running for the council seats; one more council seat is vacant.

Early voting ends at 5 p.m. · Nov 2

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Flock license plate cameras3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council suspended automatic license plate reader programs, including Flock, until Dec. 31, 2027, and the cameras were turned off and removed.

What's on the tableWhether to restart, change or end the program when the pause and the 2027 budget come up.

  • On Aug. 25, the Dayton City Council suspended all automatic license plate reader programs, including Flock cameras, in the city. Hometown Source
  • The council approved 5-0 the pause of automatic license plate programs, including Flock, in the city until Dec. 31, 2027. Hometown Source
  • City staff said the city is locked into its Flock contract until Dec. 31, 2027. Hometown Source
02Property tax rate and 2027 levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council has given direction to keep the tax rate near its current level while it works on the 2027 budget and levy.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 city and EDA tax levies and the tax rate.

03Growth and development approvals2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council is approving plats and land-use changes while the city plans for its 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

What's on the tableWhich development, zoning and infrastructure projects move forward as the city grows.

04Water supply and the northwest water tower0 sourced facts

Where it standsA northwest water tower is proposed in McNeil Park in the Historic Village, and residents have asked for other sites to be considered.

What's on the tableWhere the water tower goes and how the city pays for added water capacity.

    05Mayor and council pay4 sourced facts

    Where it standsThe council directed staff in July to update the pay ordinance to compare against neighboring cities; an ordinance amending 2027 pay was on the Sept. 8 agenda.

    What's on the tableWhat the mayor and council members are paid starting in 2027.

    3 notes on these statements

    Dennis Fisher and Anthony J. Albright are the two candidates for mayor; David Fashant, Scott Salonek, Alyssa Senescall and Luke Senst are running for two council seats. Minnesota Secretary of State

    Dayton will not have a city primary because not enough candidates filed to trigger one. Hometown Source

    Candidate statements here come from the Hometown Source voter's guide, where each candidate was asked about Flock cameras and plans for the city. Hometown Source

    No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

    Who matches you?

    Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

    1. 1. What should Dayton do with Flock license plate cameras once the pause ends?

    2. 2. How should Dayton set its property tax rate?

    3. 3. How should Dayton handle new housing growth?

    4. 4. How should Dayton add water capacity?

    5. 5. How should Dayton set pay for the mayor and council?

    Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted1 council decision, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Dayton is runWho runs Dayton, and what it costsThe city administrator earns $192,000. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.Your houseA Dayton house at the typical market value ($503,400) pays about $10,500 a yearProperty tax, water, trash and energy, line by line for your address, plus the savings most owners miss.

    Key dates

    The seat math

    1 stay (not up this year): Sara Van Asten3 on this ballot

    5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

    • The council has a mayor and four council members; council terms are four years and the mayor's term is two years. City of Dayton
    • The mayor, Scott Salonek and David Fashant have terms ending in 2026; Sara Van Asten's term and the vacant seat's term end in 2028. City of Dayton
    • The council is appointing a member to the vacant seat, to take office at the Oct. 13, 2026 meeting and serve through 2028. City of Dayton
    • The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Dayton City Hall. City of Dayton

    Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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