Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey announced Monday that she will not seek re-election in 2026, becoming the latest senior Democrat to step aside as the party faces growing calls for generational change in its ranks, as reported [1] by Fox News.
EXODUS GROWS: Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, 80, says she won’t seek re-election after serving in Congress since 2015. She beat her Republican challenger 61% to 36% in 2024. pic.twitter.com/vmRIw04OxD [2]
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 10, 2025 [3]
Coleman, 80, confirmed her decision in a post on X, stating that her ninth term in Congress will be her last.
“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,” she wrote.
“While I am not seeking re-election, there is still more to be done in my last year in public office. I absolutely intend to continue serving my constituents in the 12th District straight through to the last day of my term.”
Today, I’m announcing that I will not seek reelection next year.
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… pic.twitter.com/wqpT3C8dIO [4]
— Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) November 10, 2025 [5]
Coleman, who has represented New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District since 2015, previously served in the state legislature for more than 15 years before her election to Congress.
She most recently won re-election in 2024, defeating Republican challenger Darius Mayfield with 61.2% of the vote.
Despite her departure, the district — which covers parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties — is expected to remain in Democratic control. Republicans are not considered competitive in the solidly blue district.
Coleman’s announcement adds to a growing list of longtime Democratic lawmakers who are stepping down ahead of the next election cycle.
Her decision follows that of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, who revealed last week that she will not run for a 20th term representing San Francisco.
In the Senate, two prominent Democrats — Dick Durbin of Illinois, 80, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, 78 — have also announced their retirements.
Their departures signal a broader shift within the Democratic Party, as aging members of Congress prepare to pass leadership to a younger generation.
Coleman acknowledged that generational transition in her statement. “I believe now is the time to pass the torch to the next leader who will continue leading this charge,” she said.
Questions about age and leadership longevity have persisted in both parties. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, 83, also confirmed that he will not seek re-election in 2026 after leading the GOP in the Senate for nearly two decades.
With Coleman’s retirement, Democrats will lose another veteran member of their progressive wing.
Her exit underscores the continuing reshaping of Congress ahead of the 2026 elections, as long-serving lawmakers from both sides of the aisle make way for new political voices.