Statement from Senator Andrew Zwicker on the Retirement of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

TRENTON – Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex/Mercer/Somerset/ Hunterdon) released the following statement in response to United States Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s decision not to seek re-election in 2026:

"It is difficult to overstate the impact Bonnie Watson Coleman has had on New Jersey and on our nation. She is a true trailblazer, a historic figure who shattered barriers each and every day.

"But her legacy is defined not by the history she made, but by the battles she fought. Bonnie has been on the front lines, armed with facts, principle, and an absolute refusal to back down—an unwavering, powerful, and effective voice for those who too often go unheard.

"On a personal level, she has been a friend and mentor from the moment we first met at a CD12 candidate forum in 2014. I may have been a newcomer, but she made me feel at ease and welcome the moment I sat down next to her and throughout that campaign. That’s who she is and who she has always been.

"While I will profoundly miss her voice and her leadership in Washington, her retirement is so well-deserved. Her legacy is not just in the laws she passed, but in the generations of leaders she has inspired. I want to thank her for her incredible service to our state and to our nation."