Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a pioneering New Jersey Democrat and the first Black woman ever to represent the Garden State in Congress, announced Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, that she will not seek reelection in 2026.
This marks the end of a political career that has spanned more than three decades.
“It is time to pass the torch,” the 80-year-old congresswoman said in a heartfelt statement, describing her decision as one made “with tremendous thought and reflection” alongside her husband, Bill Coleman, and their family. “I can truly say, I am at peace with my decision.”
Watson Coleman has represented New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District since 2015, a reliably Democratic region covering parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties. Before arriving in Washington, she served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where she rose to become Majority Leader and chaired the state Democratic Party — a rare feat for a woman of color in state politics.
A Progressive Legacy
During her tenure in Congress, Watson Coleman established herself as a steadfast member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, championing issues of economic justice, health equity, criminal justice reform, and poverty reduction.
Her statement reflected that legacy, calling on future leaders to “continue to stand and fight against those who would target the vulnerable and attempt to harm our democracy.”
She also renewed her call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a nod to her long-standing interest in global human rights and diplomacy.
“She was always a fighter — not for power, but for people,” one New Jersey Democratic official said following her announcement. “Bonnie carried the moral weight of her district with integrity and empathy.”
A Political Career Rooted in Service
Watson Coleman’s path in public service was inspired by her father, John S. Watson, the first Black legislator to chair the New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee. Colleagues often noted that her leadership was marked by a blend of compassion and conviction, a combination that earned her respect across ideological lines.
In Washington, she became a voice for underrepresented communities — particularly women of color — at a time when diversity in Congress still lagged. Her commitment to public service extended beyond policy: she was known to personally mentor young staffers and interns, often reminding them to “lead with purpose, not privilege.”
A Safe Seat, But an Open Field
With her retirement, NJ-12 remains a safely Democratic seat, but Watson Coleman’s exit is already stirring movement among state party figures.
Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson and East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen quickly announced their bids following her statement. Other potential contenders include state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, Assemblymember Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello, and Mercer County Commissioner Sam Frisby.
Zwicker, who once worked under former Rep. Rush Holt at Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory, is seen as a potential frontrunner — though Watson Coleman’s endorsement, should she give one, could shape the race dramatically.
The End of an Era
Watson Coleman’s decision comes amid a broader generational shift in Congress, as several long-serving lawmakers from both parties signal retirements ahead of the 2026 cycle.
Her departure will leave a void in both the Progressive Caucus and New Jersey’s delegation — one that extends beyond policy influence to the realm of moral leadership.
“It is my fervent hope,” she said, quoting her late friend and civil rights icon John Lewis, “that whoever is next elected will ‘get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.’”
That sentiment, perhaps more than any legislative victory, captures the spirit of Bonnie Watson Coleman’s public life — a career rooted in courage, conscience, and a quiet insistence that politics can, and should, serve people first.
