U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, the first African American woman to represent New Jersey in Congress, announced Monday that she will not seek re-election when her current term ends next year, closing a historic 50-year career in public service.
Watson Coleman, 80, said the decision followed “tremendous thought and reflection” and conversations with her husband, Bill Coleman, and their family. Quoting the biblical verse that has long guided her, she said, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
“I have always prioritized the people I represent above any personal or professional gain,” Watson Coleman said in a statement. “I believe now is the time to pass the torch to the next leader who will continue leading this charge.”
Elected to the U.S. House in 2014 after nearly two decades in the New Jersey General Assembly, Watson Coleman became known as a progressive champion and a steadfast advocate for criminal-justice reform, health equity, and economic opportunity. She previously served as Assembly Majority Leader and was the first Black woman to chair the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
National tributes
Colleagues from across the country praised Watson Coleman’s record and influence.
“It has been a great privilege and blessed experience to serve with Bonnie Watson Coleman in the United States House of Representatives,” said Congressman Jim Clyburn. “She will be sorely missed by her constituents and by us, her colleagues and friends.”
Former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge called her “one of Congress’s finest,” while Rep. Barbara Lee said she was “a principled, strategic legislator … who delivers for her constituents.”
Former Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass described her as “a legacy built on courage, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to justice,” and Rep. Bennie Thompson said, “New Jersey is losing a great public servant … for a lot of us in the House, we are losing a dear friend and role model extraordinaire.”
Rep. Troy Carter added that she had been “a North Star for equity, a champion for women and girls, a warrior for the working class, and a conscience for the Congress.”
State and county leaders reflect
New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin praised Watson Coleman’s decades of advocacy for “working families, social justice, and the communities that too often were left without a seat at the table.”
“She led by example,” he said, “making history as the first woman of color to represent New Jersey in Congress.”
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, who previously served alongside Watson Coleman in the Assembly, called her “an extraordinary leader” and noted her collaboration on regional priorities.
“I’ve been proud to partner with her to deliver for Mercer residents, from the upgrades at Trenton-Mercer Airport to the replacement of the Lincoln Avenue Bridge in Trenton,” Benson said. “I know that even as a private citizen she will continue to be a powerful voice for the good of our community.”
Local voices of gratitude
Across the 12th Congressional District, local officials expressed appreciation for Watson Coleman’s longtime representation.
“Congresswoman Watson Coleman has been an unshakable advocate for the 12th Congressional District,” said Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning. “I am thankful for her many years of service to our community, standing up to power and fighting to make sure that we all are represented in Washington.”
Hopewell Borough Mayor Ryan Kennedy said, “We have been lucky to have Congresswoman Watson-Coleman representing us in Washington and before that in the Assembly. She has enormous shoes to fill and is deserving of all of our thanks for her years of tireless and groundbreaking service.”
Pennington Mayor Jim Davy offered the Borough’s “deepest gratitude … for her unwavering commitment to public service and her tireless advocacy for our community over her distinguished career.”
Dr. Rosetta Treece, superintendent of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, said Watson Coleman “has truly dedicated her life to fighting for those who need their voices uplifted. She has paved the way for women like me to enter leadership roles. She will be sorely missed.”
A lasting legacy
Watson Coleman said she plans to serve out her term through 2026 and continue advancing her legislative agenda to “build an economy for all” and secure health and criminal-justice reforms.
“We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history,” she said. “We must continue to stand and fight against those who would target the vulnerable and attempt to harm our democracy.”
