| Election Name: | 1897 San Diego mayoral election |
| Flag Image: | Flag of San Diego, California.svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1895 San Diego mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 1895 |
| Next Election: | 1899 San Diego mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 1899 |
| Nominee1: | Daniel C. Reed |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,400 |
| Percentage1: | 39.3% |
| Nominee2: | C.F. Holland |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 933 |
| Percentage2: | 26.2% |
| Mayor | |
| Before Election: | William H. Carlson |
| Before Party: | Independent (politician) |
| After Election: | Daniel C. Reed |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
The 1897 San Diego mayoral election was held on April 6, 1897, to elect the mayor for San Diego. Daniel C. Reed was elected Mayor with a plurality of the votes.
Incumbent Mayor William H. Carlson stood for re-election to a third two-year term as an independent. His re-election was contested by Daniel C. Reed, a Republican, C.F. Holland, a Democrat, and A.C. Mouser, a Populist. In addition to the partisan candidates, three others contested the election as independents.
On April 6, 1897, Reed was elected mayor with a plurality of 39.2 percent of the vote. Holland came in second with 26.2 percent of the vote, followed by the incumbent Carlson with 17.5 percent.