Biography

Bonnie Watson Coleman, born on February 6, 1945, in Camden, New Jersey, is a Democratic politician representing New Jersey's 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015. She is the first African American woman to represent New Jersey in Congress. Prior to her congressional tenure, Watson Coleman served eight consecutive terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2014, where she became the first Black woman to serve as Majority Leader and chaired the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. Throughout her career, she has been a staunch advocate for women's rights, economic equality, and criminal justice reform.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts from Thomas Edison State College, 1985.

• Political Experience:

  • Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Contract Compliance, and Affirmative Action at the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 1974–1980.
  • Assistant Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, 1980–1998.
  • Member of the New Jersey General Assembly, 1998–2014.
  • Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly, 2006–2010.
  • Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, 2002–2006.
  • U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district, 2015–present.

In Congress, Watson Coleman has been an active member of several caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. In 2016, she co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, the first caucus dedicated to addressing policy issues affecting Black women and girls. Her legislative efforts have focused on criminal justice reform, women's health, and economic equality.