Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, the first Black woman elected to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House, announced Monday she will not seek reelection next year.
According to The Associated Press, Watson Coleman, 80, said in a statement that her decision came after “tremendous thought and reflection” and discussions with her 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,” she said.
A Democrat representing New Jersey’s 12th District — which includes Trenton and Princeton — Watson Coleman was first elected to Congress in 2014 after serving in the state legislature for 16 years. The district has remained reliably Democratic.
A self-described progressive, she has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and has focused much of her work on reducing poverty and promoting “an economy for all.”
Watson Coleman recently voiced support for fellow New Jersey Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver, calling the assault charges against her “purely political.”Her departure adds to a growing list of lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who are retiring at the end of their current terms.
