[2] She represented the 15th Senate District which includes parts of Provo, Orem, Vineyard, Lindon and Pleasant Grove.

She graduated from Merced High School (California) and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Brigham Young University.

[3] Shortly after her marriage, Dayton chose to put aside her career as a nurse to become a full-time stay at home mother.

[5][6] She defeated Independent American Party candidate Gordon Norman with 90% of the vote in the election to retain the seat.

[12] [13] In 2013, Dayton sponsored a bill that would require Utah to collect data on women who undergo abortions, including their race and their reason for doing so.