In 1914, he ran for mayor but was defeated handily by William Thomas Henry.

In 1915 he ran once again for city council, this time as an alderman, but was again defeated, finishing twelfth of fourteen.

While serving as an alderman, Adair ran for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1921 election as an independent in the riding of Edmonton.

Instead, he ran for the public school board that election, and finished first of seven candidates.

Joseph Adair was known as an outstanding speaker, and was nicknamed "Edmonton's Silver-Tongued Orator".