The northern portion of the riding, East York, tends to lean right-of-centre, while the southern half, including Riverdale, Leslieville and Riverside, usually swings to the left.

[citation needed] The name of the electoral district was changed in 2000 from "Broadview—Greenwood" to "Toronto—Danforth" on the suggestion of Dennis Mills, the riding's federal Member of Parliament.

Many local citizens were upset at the name change, particularly due to the lack of public say in the matter.

[citation needed] In 2003, it was given its current boundaries, which consist of the part of the City of Toronto bounded on the south by Lake Ontario and Toronto Harbour, on the east by Coxwell Avenue and Coxwell Boulevard, on the north by Taylor Creek and the Don River East Branch, and on the west by the Don River.

[citation needed] The provincial electoral district was created in 1999 when provincial ridings were defined to have the same borders as federal ridings.