[3] However, he quickly rebounded and was elected on February 11, 2017, as chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party on the first ballot with 92% of the vote among four candidates.

Goodwin previously served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's sixty-eighth House district, including constituents in Richmond and Stanly counties.

Goodwin campaigned as the Democratic nominee for the position of North Carolina Commissioner of Labor in the 2004 election, losing in a close race to incumbent Republican Cherie Berry.

[4] Goodwin defeated David Smith in the Democratic primary 56%–43%[5] and went on to beat Republican John Odom and Libertarian Mark McMains with 51.57% of the vote.

[8] After very narrowly losing the general election, Goodwin announced that he would run for chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

[10] Two years later, in January 2019, Goodwin won unanimous re-election to a second term as chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party.