NJ Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Won’t Seek Re-Election in 2026

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a stalwart in New Jersey politics, announced on Monday that she will be retiring at the end of her term in 2026.

Watson Coleman, 80, was the first Black woman to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a press release on Monday, she said that she made the decision with “tremendous thought and reflection,” emphasizing that there is “still more to be done” in her last year in office.

“I am confident it is the right choice for me and my family who have graciously sacrificed by my side when I placed serving our community above all else and I can truly say, I am at peace with my decision,” she said.

Watson Coleman, a self-described progressive, drew national attention after visiting Newark’s Delaney Hall immigrant detention center on the same day Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing. While his charges were dropped, the Justice Department is pursuing assault charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver, who calls the prosecution “politically motivated.”

Though recognized nationally, those in New Jersey see the Camden-native as a devoted public servant whose 50-year career has been defined by an unwavering commitment to racial and gender justice. 

Before her election to Congress in 2014, she served in the state Assembly from 1998 to 2015 and became the first Black woman to chair the New Jersey Democratic Party.

During her time in Congress, Watson Coleman spearheaded initiatives to ban hair discrimination, expand healthcare coverage for pregnant people, push for a ceasefire in Gaza, and end federal contracts with private prisons.

Watson Coleman emphasized that there was “still more to be done” in her final year in office.

“We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history. Last week our country saw what happens when we work together and we stand against the horrific and oppressive policies emanating from the Trump White House,” she said. “We must continue to stand and fight against those who would target the vulnerable and attempt to harm our democracy.