Addabbo practiced law for ten years at Addabbo and Greenberg before being elected to the 32nd district of the New York City Council in 2001. He was re-elected three times and served as a council member for eight years. Addabbo and his wife, Dawn, have two daughters, Alexis and Arianna.
By 2008, Republican state Senator Serphin R. Maltese had served the southern Queens district for ten terms, despite the district leaning Democratic. Facing term limits in the Council in 2009, Addabbo decided to challenge Maltese. In a good year for Democrats, Addabbo defeated Maltese 57% to 43%.[3] While the district is more competitive than others in Queens, Addabbo has never won re-election by less than ten points, beating Councilman Anthony Como in 2010, Councilman Eric Ulrich in 2012, and Republican Michael Conigliaro in 2014. He did not face serious challenges in 2016 or 2018.
On June 24, 2011, Addabbo supported gay marriage by voting for the "Marriage Equality Enactment" Bill# A-8354, which successfully passed in the Senate.[4] This vote was a change in position, as Addabbo had been one of a handful of Democratic votes against marriage equality that defeated a similar bill in 2009.[5]
In the Senate, Addabbo serves as the Chair of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.[6]
^Shaman, Diana. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Ozone Park; Changing Faces, Enduring Values", The New York Times, October 5, 2003. Accessed October 19, 2007. "At the foot of the tree-shaded enclave, which stretches from North Conduit Avenue to Pitkin Avenue and from 81st to 87th Streets, lies the 2.8-acre (11,000 m2) Joseph P. Addabbo Park, named after Senator Addabbo, a lifelong resident of Ozone Park who served in Congress from 1960 until his death in 1986. His son, the city councilman, lives in Tudor Village."