in 1813, goldsborough was elected as a federalist to the united states senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing march 4, 1813 caused by the failure of the legislature to elect a senator, and served from may 21, 1813 to march 3, 1819. in the senate, goldsborough served as chairman of the committee on claims (fifteenth congress), and as a member of the committee on the district of columbia (fifteenth congress).