Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) will retire from the House at the end of her term after more than 10 years in the chamber.
The 80-year-old New Jersey congresswoman, who has served in the House since 2015, said her retirement is an effort “to pass the torch to the next leader.”
“I believe in giving voice to truth, speaking truth to power, and I believe as a consequence of that, we have been able to effect real results that will be felt in communities across America for generations. I also believe now is the time to pass the torch to the next leader who will continue leading this charge,” she said in a statement.
Watson Coleman became the first black woman from New Jersey elected to the House when she won in 2015. Her seat was previously held by former longtime Democratic Rep. Rush Holt Jr., who left the House after losing his bid to be the Democratic nominee for the Senate to Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) in 2013.
“I made a commitment years ago to always lead the charge on behalf of those I represent, and I believe I have fulfilled that commitment to the very best of my abilities. I have always stood on the frontlines in the fight for principled progressive policies and my work has centered on the belief that there must be a floor below which we should never allow any child, family, or person to fall,” Watson Coleman said.
A member of the House Appropriations and Budget committees, Watson Coleman pointed to her efforts to “build an economy for all, reform our criminal justice system, achieve health equity, and eliminate poverty” in her statement. She has bolstered progressive legislation in the House throughout her career, co-sponsoring the House’s Medicare for All Act and introducing the Earned Income Tax Credit Modernization Act in 2023.
Watson Coleman was also one of several New Jersey lawmakers to protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark earlier this year.
Her district is in a Democratic stronghold in central New Jersey and includes Trenton, Princeton, and East Brunswick.
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) posted on X after Watson Coleman announced her retirement.
“Bonnie is a fighter. She was one of the first people who took me under her wing when I came to the House and showed me what it means to stand up for people who need a voice. What an extraordinary career in public service for NJ and the country,” Kim said.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) also commented on Watson Coleman’s retirement.
“It has been a great privilege and blessed experience to serve with Bonnie Watson Coleman in the United States House of Representatives. It has also been an honor to have been tutored by her and to have partnered with her in our efforts to make the many things that make this country great accessible and affordable to all. Bonnie has been a real workhorse on behalf of her constituents and she will be sorely missed by them and by us, her colleagues and friends,” Clyburn said.
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Watson Coleman did not endorse anyone to replace her in the 2026 midterm elections.
“I made this decision with tremendous thought and reflection, and through many personal conversations with my husband Bill and my family. 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,” Watson Coleman said.