Population (2000) 647,258 Cook PVI D+14 | Median income 69,668 | |
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Current Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D–Ewing Township) Distribution 93.17% urban
6.83% rural Ethnicity 75.4% White
11.7% Black
9.1% Asian
5.5% Hispanic
0.1% Native American
0.2% other | ||
New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional district is represented by Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman. The district is known for its research centers and educational institutions such as Princeton University, The College of New Jersey, Institute for Advanced Study, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
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Voting trends
Historically, the 12th and its predecessors had been a swing district. However, redistricting following the United States Census, 2000 gave the district a somewhat bluer hue than its predecessor. It absorbed most of Trenton, along with a number of other municipalities.
The redistricting made second-term Democrat Rush D. Holt Jr. considerably more secure; he had narrowly defeated freshman Republican Michael Pappas in 1998, and had only held on to his seat against Dick Zimmer (who represented the district from 1991 to 1997) by 651 votes. In 2002, despite an expensive challenge from former New Jersey Secretary of State Buster Soaries, Holt was re-elected with 61%, and Republicans have mostly lost interest in the district.
Since then, the 12th has been reckoned as a Democratic-leaning district, as measured by the Cook PVI. In 2004, Holt was re-elected over real estate executive Bill Spadea (59–41%) and again in 2006 over former Helmetta Council President Joseph Sinagra (65–35%).
In 2008, Holt defeated Holmdel Township Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman (62–36%).
In 2010, while Democrats suffered huge House loses, Holt defeated Princeton venture capitalist Scott Sipprelle and Independent Kenneth J. Cody (53–46–1%).
Holt retired in 2014, and was succeeded by State Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Counties and municipalities in the district
A change was made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013 with the 113th United States Congress, based on the results of the 2010 United States Census. The district currently contains portions of four counties and 31 municipalities:
Mercer County (10)
East Windsor Township, Ewing Township, Hightstown, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Pennington, Princeton, Trenton and West Windsor TownshipMiddlesex County (14)
Cranbury Township, Dunellen, East Brunswick Township, Helmetta, Jamesburg, Middlesex, Milltown, Monroe Township, North Brunswick Township, Old Bridge Township (part, also 6th), Plainsboro Township, South Brunswick Township, South River Borough, and Spotswood BoroughSomerset County (4)
Bound Brook, Franklin Township, Manville and South Bound BrookUnion County (3)
Fanwood, Plainfield, Scotch Plains (part, also 7th)History
The 12th congressional district (together with the 11th district) was created starting with the 63rd United States Congress in 1913, based on redistricting following the United States Census, 1910.