In 2012, Labour having held the seat from 1995 until 2008, came from third place to recapture Betws with a new candidate Betws first became an electoral ward for county elections in the early twentieth century, having initially been part of the Llandybie ward at the formation of Carmarthenshire County Council.
In due course, it became part of one of the two Ammanford wards for county council elections and these continued to exist until Carmarthenshire was abolished in 1974.
With the formation of Dyfed County Council, Betws was part of one of the Ammanford wards.
From 1894 until 1973, Betws formed an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Llandeilo Rural District Council.
Following re-organization in 1973, and until the creation of unitary authorities in 1996, Betws formed an electoral ward for the purposes of elections to Dinefwr Borough Council.