Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. is a Democrat representing New York's 15th Senate District (D+38), which covers a heavily diverse Queens constituency where nearly half of residents are foreign-born. First elected in 2009, he has served 16 years in the chamber and in the 2025 session sponsored 118 bills, with legislative focus concentrated in education, public health, insurance, and racing and gaming law. He votes with the Democratic caucus at a 99.9% rate and has raised $573,212 in campaign contributions for the 2022–2026 cycle, with gaming-industry figures among his top donors, including Jeffrey Gural ($15,000) and DNC Gaming & Entertainment Inc. ($14,000).AI
Topic Focus AI
Topics extracted by AI from floor speeches, committee hearing transcripts, and sponsored legislation. Bill and hearing citations link to source records for verification. Tag size reflects number of supporting citations.
Key Issues
From committee hearings, floor debate, and bill sponsorship.
Legislative Activity (2025–2026)
Based on complete Senate roll call records.
Bill Outcomes 2025 Session
Covers Senate-sponsored bills only. Status from Open Legislation API.
Committee Assignments
Electoral History SD-15
General Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 76.9% (53,113) | Danniel S. Maio 23.1% (15,972) | 53.8pts |
| 2022 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 57.3% (30,394) | Danniel S. Maio 42.7% (22,643) | 14.6pts |
| 2020 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 58.3% (68,829) | Thomas P. Sullivan 41.7% (49,306) | 16.5pts |
| 2018 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 64.1% (46,968) | Thomas P. Sullivan 35.9% (26,281) | 28.2pts |
| 2016 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 63.6% (62,460) | Michael Conigliaro 36.4% (35,691) | 27.3pts |
| 2014 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 55.4% (20,924) | Michael Conigliaro 44.6% (16,877) | 10.7pts |
| 2012 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 57.6% (42,190) | Eric A. Ulrich 42.4% (31,036) | 15.2pts |
| 2010 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 56.9% (23,272) | Anthony Como 43.1% (17,594) | 13.9pts |
| 2008 | Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. 57.7% (42,302) | Serphin R. Maltese 42.3% (31,028) | 15.4pts |
| 2006 | Serphin R. Maltese 51.3% (17,940) | Albert Baldeo 48.7% (17,046) | ⚡ 2.6pts |
| 2004 | Serphin R. Maltese 100.0% (34,331) | Uncontested | — |
| 2002 | Serphin R. Maltese 94.1% (23,588) | Dorothy Williams-Pereira 3.5% (879) | 90.6pts |
| 2000 | Serphin R. Maltese 94.6% (33,135) | Dorothy Williams-Pereira 5.4% (1,903) | 89.1pts |
| 1998 | Serphin R. Maltese 100.0% (23,823) | Uncontested | — |
| 1996 | Serphin R. Maltese 100.0% (34,045) | Uncontested | — |
Primary Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (Republican) | Thomas P. Sullivan 67.8% (3,377) | Slawomir W. Platta 32.2% (1,602) | 35.6pts |
| 2018 (Reform) | Thomas P. Sullivan 25.8% (73) | Unattributable Write-In 19.4% (55) | ⚡ 6.4pts |
Source: NYS Board of Elections certified results. ⚡ = margin under 10 pts.
Vulnerability Index SD-15
Base lean: D+30
Scenario model: ±5pt national environment shift applied to district base lean (D+30). Base lean blends voter registration (40%) with recent contested general election margins (60%), using up to the last 4 general elections with margins under 40 points. Ratings: Safe D/R = 20+ pts, Likely = 10–19 pts, Lean = 4–9 pts, Toss-up = within 3 pts. "Generic ballot" refers to national partisan polling used to model favorable/unfavorable cycle environments. Not a prediction — reflects structural competitiveness under different cycle environments.
Top Co-Sponsors
District 15 Profile
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Voter registration: NYS Board of Elections (Nov. 2025).
Voter Registration
Campaign Finance (2022–2026)
Top Donors
Donor Industries top donors
Source: NYS Board of Elections via data.ny.gov. Itemized monetary contributions only. ↔ Bills = donor industry aligns with bill sponsorship focus area.
Data through 2026-03-28.
Demographics
Commute Mode
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Race and ethnicity figures may not sum to 100% — Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity category that overlaps with racial groups.
Voting Record
1 additional dissenting vote across other topics
From 1,443 recorded floor votes via OpenLeg API. Dissenting votes grouped by law section to reveal policy patterns.
Votes through 2026-02-10.
Floor Speeches: In Support (8) AI
Explained that the B version addresses the prior veto by removing all gamification so machines are now simple dispensers rather than slot machine-like devices. Noted the 5 percent state payout is appropriate because this is for charitable organizations and veterans groups, not a revenue-generating measure.
Sponsor argued the bill specifically targets illegal online casino-style games, not legitimate promotional sweepstakes like Starbucks or McDonald's. Emphasized the bill protects minors from predatory online gaming sites and prevents revenue loss to illegal markets while New York has not legalized online gaming.
The bill is timely given March is Problem Gaming Awareness Month and approximately 600,000 New Yorkers annually deal with problem gaming issues affecting themselves and their families.
Sponsor who emphasized that Diwali represents light over darkness and good over evil, messages needed in contemporary times. The bill allows New York City residents to recognize the holiday through the school system.
Explained the bill requires signage at horse sales and auctions notifying of New York's anti-slaughter law and mandates Department of Agriculture and Markets agents be present at such sales for enforcement purposes. Characterized it as another positive step in protecting horses and improving after-care.
Committee Hearing Engagement (5) AI
| Date | Committee | Engagement | Stance | Focus Areas | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-31 | RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING | high | supportive | Overall success of mobile sports betting Revenue generation for education Problem gambling and addiction prevention Sustainability and future expansion Regulatory oversight and improvements | Chair Addabbo opened the hearing emphasizing the phenomenal success of mobile sports betting in New York, highlighting record-setting numbers and $700 million in education funding. He stressed the legislature's responsibility to maintain vigilance on problem gambling and pre-addiction issues, and to ensure New York maintains the best product in the nation. |
| 2023-01-31 | RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING | high | neutral | Revenue sustainability and long-term projections Budget hearing status for gaming industry Brick-and-mortar casino impacts Problem gambling funding and protocols Marketing restrictions for colleges and universities Regulatory timeline for proposed changes | Sen. Addabbo, the committee chair, engaged substantively on multiple fronts, expressing surprise that the gaming industry lacks dedicated budget hearing time despite generating $5 billion in revenue. He questioned sustainability of current numbers, sought assurance on brick-and-mortar casino protections, and requested updates on the regulatory process for implementing proposed safeguards. |
| 2023-01-31 | RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING | high | skeptical | Fiscal impact of tax rate reduction Credibility of data supporting lower tax rate Illegal market activity and evidence Whether operators had business plans accounting for 51 percent rate Budget process and education funding implications | Addabbo was highly engaged and skeptical of the operators' arguments. He repeatedly challenged them to provide credible data showing that a tax rate reduction would not harm state revenue, noting that $600 million in additional handle would be needed to offset lost tax revenue. He emphasized that any change must be justified through the budget process and expressed doubt about the operators' claims, noting they knew the 51 percent rate when they entered the market. |
| 2023-01-31 | RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING | high | supportive | Employment impact in New York Promotional spending and tax rates iGaming market potential and illegal market losses Revenue projections and comparisons to other states Expansion of betting types (MVP, Rookie of Year awards) Market ceiling and Q4 performance analysis | Sen. Addabbo demonstrated strong engagement throughout, asking detailed questions about employment, promotional dynamics, and iGaming potential. He signaled support for the industry while also indicating interest in iGaming as a future policy matter. He challenged Spectrum's Q4 analysis, arguing New York had reached a higher ceiling than other states and therefore shouldn't be directly compared. |
| 2023-01-31 | RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING | high | supportive | iGaming implementation Problem gambling funding allocation Spending priorities for addiction services Voluntary self-exclusion protocols College campus educators 24/7 services | Sen. Addabbo chaired the hearing and demonstrated strong engagement with problem gambling issues. He credited Maney's input for being incorporated into mobile sports betting statutory language (account caps, credit card usage caps) and engaged in detailed discussion about how addiction funding should be spent, noting that the $6 million allocation grew to $12 million based on statutory language tied to wagering activity. |