The ward makes up the northern portion of the federal and provincial riding of Ottawa West—Nepean.

However, Bay Ward has voted Liberal in recent provincial elections and Conservative federally.

In the 2003 election he faced John Blatherwick, while in 2006 he fended off a challenge from high-profile former mayoral candidate Terry Kilrea.

In the 2006 mayoral election, however, the area supported Larry O'Brien and Chiarelli finished third, also behind Alex Munter.

In the 2010 mayoral election, Bay Ward swung back to the centre, going for Jim Watson.