Bonnie Watson Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bonnie Watson Coleman
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Official portrait, 2014
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Rush Holt Jr. |
| Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly | |
| In office January 12, 2006 – January 12, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph J. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cryan |
| Chair of the New Jersey Democratic Party | |
| In office February 4, 2002 – February 17, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph J. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Cryan |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 15th district |
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| In office January 13, 1998 – January 3, 2015 Serving with Reed Gusciora
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| Preceded by | Shirley Turner |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth Maher Muoio |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bonnie Marie Watson
February 6, 1945 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
William Coleman
(m. 1995) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | John Watson (father) |
| Education | Rutgers University, Camden Thomas Edison State University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Bonnie Marie Watson Coleman (born February 6, 1945) is an American politician. Since 2015, she has been a U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district. This means she represents the people of her district in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
As a member of the Democratic Party, she is the first African-American woman to represent New Jersey in Congress. Before this, she served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2015.
Watson Coleman has worked on laws about many important issues. She helped pass the CROWN Act, which protects people from being treated unfairly because of their hairstyle. She has also worked to improve the justice system and make sure families can take paid time off from work to care for a new baby or a sick family member.
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Early Life and Career
Bonnie Watson Coleman was born in Camden, New Jersey, on February 6, 1945. She grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Ewing High School in 1963.
For more than 28 years, Watson Coleman worked for the New Jersey state government. She started her career working for the New Jersey State Division on Civil Rights. Later, she became the director of the Office of Civil Rights at the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
In 1985, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Thomas Edison State College. Her father, John S. Watson, was also a politician in the New Jersey General Assembly.
She has received honorary doctorate degrees from several universities, including The College of New Jersey, Rider University, and Stockton University.
Starting in New Jersey Politics
In 1998, Watson Coleman decided to run for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly. This was the same district her father had represented. She won the election and served in the Assembly for 17 years, until 2015.
While in the Assembly, she became the first African-American woman to be elected chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, a leadership role in her party. From 2006 to 2010, she was the Majority Leader of the Assembly.
During her time in the state government, she worked on several important laws. She helped increase the minimum wage and pass the Paid Family Leave Act. This law allows workers to take paid time off to care for their families. She also worked to improve the justice system.
Working in the U.S. Congress
Winning Her Seat in Congress
In 2014, the congressman for New Jersey's 12th district, Rush Holt, announced he would not run for reelection. Watson Coleman decided to run for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She won the Democratic primary election and then won the main election in November 2014. This victory made her the first African-American woman to represent New Jersey in Congress. She has been reelected several times since then.
Her Work as a Congresswoman
In Congress, Watson Coleman is known for her progressive ideas and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She works on laws to help people in her district and across the country.
One of her most famous bills is the CROWN Act. This law aims to stop discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle. The bill passed in the House of Representatives.
She also started the Healthy MOM Act. This would allow pregnant women to sign up for or change their health insurance plans. She has also worked to ban the government from using private, for-profit prisons.
In 2016, she helped create the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls. This group focuses on issues that are important to Black women and girls. She also helped start the America 250 Caucus to plan for the country's 250th birthday celebration in 2026.
Watson Coleman has also been involved in foreign policy. In 2020, she signed a letter calling for peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. More recently, she has supported a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Committee and Caucus Memberships
Being on a committee means a member of Congress can focus on specific topics. Watson Coleman is on the Committee on Appropriations. This is a very important committee that decides how the U.S. government spends money.
She is also a member of many groups in Congress called caucuses. These groups work together on shared interests. Some of the caucuses she belongs to are:
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Black Maternal Health Caucus
- Medicare for All Caucus
Personal Life
Watson Coleman was first married in 1972 to Jim Carter, and they had one son. They later divorced. In 1995, she married William Coleman, who has two sons from a previous marriage. She lives in Ewing Township.
In 2018, she had surgery for a cancerous tumor. In 2021, she tested positive for COVID-19. She had back surgery in June 2024.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
