Prior to elected office, Goldfeder served as a senior advisor to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

His dedication to public service is often attributed to the influence of his father, a local volunteer EMT, as well as a visit by then-Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer to Goldfeder's class when he was in middle school.

[9] Goldfeder, a favorite to replace Pheffer,[10] announced his candidacy, receiving the support of the Queens Democratic establishment to run in a special election against Republican candidate Jane Deacy, a former NYPD officer from Breezy Point.

[11] During the campaign, Goldfeder ran on a platform focusing on improving transportation in the district, ending the toll on the Cross Bay Bridge, and bringing full casino gaming to Aqueduct Racetrack.

[15] In the days following the storm, Goldfeder lived out of the NYPD 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway while helping to coordinate recovery efforts and assist in delivering aid supplies to affected neighborhoods.

In response, Goldfeder held multiple town hall meetings to provide residents and business owners with the opportunity to discuss their concerns with a broad range of agencies helping with relief efforts following Sandy.

[18] Goldfeder fulfilled one of his main campaign promises when, in 2012, he succeeded in having the Cross Bay Bridge rebate for Broad Channel and Rockaway re-inserted into Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive budget.

[20] Under the plan secured by Goldfeder, residents of Rockaway and Broad Channel are reimbursed for all trips taken over the bridge from funds allocated in the state budget.

[27] When the survey was completed, it showed residents' preference for expanded transportation over a proposed plan to convert the elevated train trestle into a park similar to the High Line.

It will not only improve inter-modal connectivity throughout the borough, but it will also multiply benefits for the city in quality union jobs, regional economic development, and fare revenues.

"[30] The extensive damage to A train tracks during Superstorm Sandy left residents of Broad Channel and Rockaway without subway service to Manhattan.

[35] On August 21, 2014, Assemblyman Goldfeder, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, community leaders, and dozens of Rockaway residents gathered outside city hall to call for another extension to the ferry line.

"[36] Despite 11th hour appeals made by Assemblyman Goldfeder and other elected Rockaway officials during an emergency meeting with Mayor de Blasio, ferry service ended on October 31, 2014.

[42] During this time, Goldfeder worked with colleagues in Washington to secure passage of a bill in Congress to delay dramatic increases in flood insurance planned under the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act.

[47] The Assemblyman's legislation was motivated by issues homeowners in his district faced after Sandy, which included protracted fights with policy providers over coverage and recent reports of alleged fraudulent practices by flood insurance companies and the National Flood Insurance Program administered by FEMA[48][49][50] According to Goldfeder, the proposal would help protect homeowners from being overcharged for premiums or dropped from their policies after major storms like Sandy.