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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-New Jersey) won't seek reelection in 2026, ending her historic career in Congress.
On Monday (November 10), Watson Coleman, a trailblazing Democrat and longtime progressive leader in New Jersey, announced her retirement from Congress, saying it's "time to pass the torch."
“I made this decision with tremendous thought and reflection, and through many personal conversations with my husband Bill and my family,” Watson Coleman said in a statement. “I am confident it is the right choice for me and my family… I can truly say, I am at peace with my decision.”
The 80-year-old lawmaker has represented New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District since 2015, becoming the first Black woman in the state’s history to serve in Congress. Before her election to the House, Watson Coleman was majority leader in the New Jersey General Assembly and later chaired the state Democratic Party.
Watson Coleman now serves as a senior member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a member of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. During her career, the Democratic lawmaker has worked to “build an economy for all, reform our criminal justice system, achieve health equity, and eliminate poverty.”
Watson Coleman’s 12th District, which covers parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties, is a solidly Democratic seat, which she won by nearly 25 percentage points in 2024. Her departure has already prompted early moves in the race to replace her. East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen and Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson announced Monday that they will run for the seat. Other potential Democratic contenders include state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, Assemblymember Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, and Mercer County Commissioner Sam Frisby, according to a Democratic official familiar with party discussions.
In her farewell message, Watson Coleman said she hopes her successor will continue her legacy of public service.
“It is my fervent hope that whoever is next elected to serve the people of the 12th Congressional District will be a public servant grounded in strong moral principles,” she said. “I hope we will see representatives who, in the words of my dear former colleague and friend Congressman John Lewis, stand ready to ‘get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.’”
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