Since its creation as a town in the 18th century, the Politics of Dayton, Ohio have adapted to and reflected the changing needs of the community, from the

Miami and Erie Canal The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that ran from Cincinnati to Toledo, Ohio, creating a water route between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845 at a cost to the state government of $ ...

through the World War II "

Dayton Project The Dayton Project was a research and development project to produce polonium during World War II, as part of the larger Manhattan Project to build the first atomic bombs. Work took place at several sites in and around Dayton, Ohio. Those working ...

" to the present day.

City Commissioners

The city government of Dayton, Ohio, is governed by a city commission comprising five commissioners, one of whom is the mayor. The commissioners serve staggered, four-year terms. Commissioners are elected two at a time in open, at-large,

nonpartisan Nonpartisanism is a lack of affiliation with, and a lack of bias towards, a political party. While an Oxford English Dictionary definition of ''partisan'' includes adherents of a party, cause, person, etc., in most cases, nonpartisan refers sp ...

elections. The four top vote-getters in the

primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...

go on to compete in the

general election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

, regardless of party membership. The top two vote-getters in the general election are elected. As of November 1969, the mayor is elected in a separate election. Although the elections are nominally nonpartisan, the Democratic and Republican parties nominate candidates.

Commission Seats 1 and 2

Commission Seats 3 and 4

1820 to 1828

From 1820 to 1828, Dayton was governed by a seven-member city council headed by a council president.

1829 to 1913

Old Montgomery County Courthouse - Dayton, Ohio (2021)

From 1829 to 1913, Dayton was governed by a seven-member city council headed by a mayor.

1914 to 1969

Starting in 1914, Dayton's government was changed to the "weak mayor" manager-council form. In this system, the five-member commission selects the

city manager A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a "Mayor–council government" council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief execu ...

, who holds administrative authority over the municipal government. The mayor is simply one of the five members of the city commission. The mayor's only power over the other commissioners is as chairperson of the commission. Bold type indicates mayor.

1970 to present

As of November 1969, the mayor is elected separately from the other four commissioners.

Election results

Bold type indicates winner.

General election

Primary election

The two candidates who run in the general election are chosen in this primary election. When fewer than three candidates file, no primary election is held.

Municipal Court Clerk

The clerk of the Dayton, Ohio, Municipal Court is elected for a four-year term.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Dayton, Ohio Ohio Dayton, Ohio-related lists Government of Dayton, Ohio