Bonnie Watson Coleman

Bonnie Watson Coleman
Born	Bonnie Marie Watson 6 2, 1945
Birthplace	Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First African-American woman to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Congress
Education	Thomas Edison State University (BA)
Children	3
Website	[https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/ Official site]

Bonnie Marie Watson Coleman (born February 6, 1945) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district since January 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Watson Coleman made history as the first African-American woman elected to represent New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. Before entering Congress, she served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2015, representing the 15th legislative district, and held the position of Majority Leader from 2006 to 2010. Her career in public service spans more than four decades, beginning with work in New Jersey state government agencies focused on civil rights and equal opportunity. In Congress, Watson Coleman has been a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus, and she co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls in 2016. She also co-founded the America 250 Caucus to help plan activities for the nation's semiquincentennial commemoration in 2026. On November 10, 2025, Watson Coleman announced she would not seek reelection when her current term expires at the end of the 119th Congress.

Early Life

Bonnie Marie Watson was born on February 6, 1945, in Camden, New Jersey. Her father, John Watson, was a prominent figure in New Jersey politics who served in the New Jersey General Assembly. Growing up in a politically engaged household, Watson Coleman was exposed to the workings of government and public service from a young age. Her father's involvement in the state legislature provided a model for civic engagement that would later influence her own career trajectory.

Watson Coleman's upbringing in Camden placed her in one of New Jersey's most economically challenged urban centers, an experience that informed her later work on issues related to civil rights, economic opportunity, and social justice. The city's demographic composition and the challenges faced by its largely African-American population shaped her understanding of systemic inequality and the role of government in addressing it.

Education

Watson Coleman attended Rutgers University–Camden before completing her undergraduate studies at Thomas Edison State University (then Thomas Edison State College), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. Thomas Edison State University, based in Trenton, New Jersey, is known for its flexible degree programs designed for adult learners, and Watson Coleman completed her degree while simultaneously building her career in state government service.

Career

New Jersey State Government

Before entering elected office, Watson Coleman built a career in New Jersey's state bureaucracy, working in positions focused on civil rights and equal opportunity. She served with the New Jersey State Division on Civil Rights, gaining experience in the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. She subsequently served as director of the Office of Civil Rights, Contract Compliance and Affirmative Action in the New Jersey Department of Transportation. In these roles, Watson Coleman was responsible for ensuring that the department's hiring practices and contracting procedures complied with federal and state civil rights requirements. This administrative experience provided her with an understanding of how government agencies function and how policy is implemented at the operational level.

New Jersey General Assembly (1998–2015)

Watson Coleman was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1997, beginning her service in January 1998. She represented the 15th legislative district, succeeding Shirley Turner, who had moved to the New Jersey Senate. She served alongside Assemblyman Reed Gusciora for much of her tenure in the district.

During her seventeen years in the General Assembly, Watson Coleman rose through the ranks of the Democratic caucus. In February 2002, she was elected Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, a position she held until February 2006. This role gave her significant influence over the state party's operations, candidate recruitment, and electoral strategy during a period of Democratic dominance in New Jersey politics.

In January 2006, Watson Coleman was elevated to the position of Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly, succeeding Joseph J. Roberts. She held this leadership post until January 2010, when she was succeeded by Joseph Cryan. As Majority Leader, she was the highest-ranking African-American woman in the history of the New Jersey Legislature at that time, and she played a central role in managing the Democratic caucus's legislative agenda on the Assembly floor.

Watson Coleman's legislative work in the General Assembly focused on several key areas. She was involved in criminal justice reform efforts, working on legislation intended to address disparities in the state's justice system. She championed the expansion of Urban Enterprise Zones, which provide tax incentives to businesses operating in economically distressed areas of New Jersey. She also supported legislation to expand paid family leave in the state, contributing to New Jersey's position as one of the early states to adopt such a program.

2014 Congressional Campaign

In 2014, Watson Coleman entered the race for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 12th congressional district after incumbent Representative Rush Holt Jr. announced his retirement. The district, which includes portions of Mercer County, Middlesex County, Somerset County, and Union County, was considered a safely Democratic seat.

Watson Coleman won the Democratic primary election, defeating a competitive field of candidates. She went on to win the general election in November 2014, making history as the first African-American woman elected to represent New Jersey in Congress. Her victory was significant both for its symbolic importance and for its reflection of the changing demographics and political dynamics of central New Jersey.

Following her election to Congress, the process of finding a replacement for her seat in the New Jersey General Assembly was initiated by local Democratic committees in Mercer and Hunterdon counties. She was succeeded in the Assembly by Elizabeth Maher Muoio.

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–present)

Watson Coleman took office on January 3, 2015, as the representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district, succeeding Rush Holt Jr. She has been reelected in subsequent cycles, serving her sixth term during the 119th Congress.

In the House, Watson Coleman has been affiliated with several caucuses that reflect her legislative priorities. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, aligning herself with the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which advocates for the interests of African-American communities and addresses issues of racial inequality.

Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls

In 2016, Watson Coleman co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, the first caucus specifically dedicated to addressing issues affecting Black women and girls in the United States. The caucus was established to bring attention to policy areas where Black women and girls face distinct challenges, including healthcare disparities, economic inequality, educational access, and the criminal justice system.

Legislative Work

Watson Coleman has pursued a legislative agenda in Congress that builds on her earlier work in the New Jersey General Assembly, with a focus on civil rights, criminal justice reform, and healthcare.

One of her notable legislative efforts has been the introduction of the CROWN Act, which seeks to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles. The legislation addresses a form of discrimination that disproportionately affects African Americans and other people of color, particularly in workplace and school settings.

Watson Coleman has also worked on criminal justice reform through legislation aimed at banning federal contracts with private prisons. This effort reflects broader concerns among progressive lawmakers about the role of for-profit incarceration in the American criminal justice system and its potential to create perverse incentives around imprisonment.

In the area of healthcare, Watson Coleman has worked to expand health coverage for pregnant women through provisions related to the Affordable Care Act. She has focused on reducing maternal mortality and improving access to prenatal care, issues that disproportionately affect women of color.

Foreign Policy Positions

Watson Coleman has taken positions on several foreign policy matters during her time in Congress. In 2015, she was among the Democratic members of Congress who chose to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress.

In July 2019, she voted against a House resolution opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

In 2020, Watson Coleman joined other members of Congress in calling on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cut military aid to Azerbaijan and sanction Turkey in response to attacks against Armenia and Artsakh.

Watson Coleman has also co-sponsored a ceasefire resolution in response to the war in Gaza.

America 250 Caucus and Semiquincentennial Legislation

Watson Coleman co-founded the America 250 Caucus, a bipartisan congressional caucus dedicated to planning activities for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. In February 2026, the House of Representatives passed two pieces of legislation led by Watson Coleman intended to support the nation's semiquincentennial celebrations.

Final Term and Retirement Announcement

On November 10, 2025, Watson Coleman announced that she would not seek reelection when her current term expires at the end of the 119th Congress. In her announcement, she indicated that she would serve out the remainder of her sixth term.

In February 2026, Watson Coleman continued her constituent services work, participating in a topping out ceremony in Ewing, New Jersey, to mark a milestone in the rebuilding of a community center.

Watson Coleman issued a statement regarding a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs in February 2026. She also announced that she would not attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.

The race to succeed Watson Coleman in New Jersey's 12th congressional district drew attention from multiple candidates, including progressive activist Sue Altman.

Personal Life

Watson Coleman has three children. Her family's connection to New Jersey politics is well-documented; her father, John Watson, served in the New Jersey General Assembly, making them part of a multigenerational political family in the state.

In 2001, two of Watson Coleman's sons pleaded guilty in connection with a robbery case, an event that received media coverage in New Jersey. In 2014, following Watson Coleman's election to Congress, one of her sons was hired for an entry-level position by Mercer County, which drew some media scrutiny.

In November 2018, Watson Coleman disclosed that she had undergone surgery to remove a cancerous growth and was recovering.

Recognition

Watson Coleman's career has been recognized by several organizations and institutions. The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University organized an event in 2026 to honor her career of public service as she prepared to conclude her sixth term in Congress.

Her status as the first African-American woman to represent New Jersey in Congress has been widely noted as a significant milestone in the state's political history. Her co-founding of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls in 2016 was recognized as a first-of-its-kind initiative within the U.S. Congress.

Watson Coleman's congressional record is documented through official sources including the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, the Congressional Record via C-SPAN, and the official congressional legislative database.

Legacy

Watson Coleman's career in public service, spanning from state government work in civil rights to leadership positions in both the New Jersey General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives, encompasses more than four decades of engagement with issues of racial equality, criminal justice reform, and social welfare policy.

Her election in 2014 as the first African-American woman to represent New Jersey in Congress marked a milestone in the political representation of Black women in the state. The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, which she co-founded in 2016, established an institutional mechanism within Congress for addressing policy issues that specifically affect Black women and girls.

Her legislative contributions, including the introduction of the CROWN Act and efforts to ban private prison contracts, reflect a consistent focus on anti-discrimination policy and criminal justice reform that connects her congressional work to her earlier career in state civil rights enforcement. Her role in co-founding the America 250 Caucus and the passage of related legislation in 2026 represent her contributions to national commemorative efforts during the final phase of her congressional career.

As Watson Coleman prepares to leave Congress at the conclusion of the 119th Congress, her tenure is the subject of recognition from institutions such as the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, which organized a 2026 event celebrating her career.