Crowded Democratic Field Begins Fight for Watson Coleman’s Open CD-12 Seat

Nine candidates appeared at a Sunday debate as Democrats compete for a rare open congressional seat in a heavily Democratic district.

By William Swanson

CentralObserver.com

Few things in politics are as coveted as an open congressional seat.

Even more so when the district leans strongly to one party. Win the primary and you are just about assured of winning the general election.

That scenario is now unfolding in CD-12, which covers parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman is not seeking re-election and an array of Democrats are running in the June 2 primary to replace her. This is seen as a solid Democratic district.

Twelve candidates are on the ballot and nine showed up for a Sunday debate sponsored by the NJ Globe, an online news site, and Rider University.

Here are the candidates who debated – in no particular

Adam Hamawy, a surgeon.
Brad Cohen, also a surgeon.
Sue Altman, who ran unsuccessfully in 2024 against Tom Kean Jr. in CD-7.
Sam Wang, a neuro-scientist.
Verlina Reynolods Jackson, a state Assemblywoman.
Adrian Mapp, the mayor of Plainfield
Shanel Robinson, a Somerset County freeholder.
Jay Vainganker, a community organizer.
Squire Servance, an attorney.

So how do you separate yourself from a field of 12, or even nine.

Let’s take a look at the first impressions the candidates made in the debate – their opening statements.

Hamawy stressed his work as a surgeon in war zones, most notably Iraq and most recently, Gaza.
“Every day I work with people to take care of them,” he said. He ended with a rhetorical flourish, saying the nation should fight for health care, not bombs.

Cohen stressed his support for women’s reproductive rights, saying he has sat with women when they make that hard decision. More broadly, he said some Dems in Washington are not fighting hard enough. Or as he put it:
“We don’t have Democrats who are fighting with the seriousness the moment deserves.”

Altman said she has fought “against powerful people all my career.” She mentioned opposing school budget cuts during the Christie Administration and “crooked insurance brokers.”
And she noted with pride that in her CD-7 run, Elon Musk spent a million dollars against her.

Wang, very simply, stressed his work as a scientist to combat autism.

Reynolds Jackson said she is running a “people powered” campaign and that she leads with action. She said that as a state legislator, she has secured $87 million to support maternal health.

Mapp, a four-term mayor, said he has a reputation of “getting things done.”
He said his campaign is built upon affordable housing, education, health care, supporting immigration and lowering taxes.

Robinson, an Air Force veteran, said that fighting Donald Trump is an enormous challenge, but the stakes are very high.
“This election is about who we are as a country,” Robinson said.  

Vainganker is 28 and he said age is important.
Talking about 9/11, the pandemic and the war in Iran, he said that his generation has never experienced “normal.” And by extension, he said it is time for a new generation of Democratic leaders.

Servance said he already has knocked on 20,000 doors and that he knows how to get results. In general, he said the party needs “less talk, more results.”

Amid all this skirmishing, there is one Republican on the primary ballot – Gregg Mele.