In 2021, Dublin Bay South had been characterised as a "Fine Gael heartland" by some of the Irish national media, noting the area (as Dublin South-East) was once the seat of Fine Gael leaders John A. Costello and Garrett FitzGerald and their historical performance in the area. However, it has also been the seat of party leaders Ruairi Quinn of the Labour Party, Michael McDowell of the Progressive Democrats, John Gormley of the Green Party as well as Eamon Ryan, also of the Green Party. Dublin Bay South has been called "one of the most liberal constituencies in the country" as well as "one of the wealthiest". As Dublin South East, the area had the highest vote against the introduction of the Eight Amendment in 1983, and in the 2018 referendum it had the highest vote in favour of repealing it. It has been noted that between the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Social Democrats and Democratic Left, centre-left parties have won at least 29% of the vote in every election in the area between 1981 and 2021.