Mayor Brad Cohen photographed in nature                                                                   Brad Cohen

East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen Runs for Congress

BY DRISHYA NISHANTH & RITIKA ANNAMANENI

MAY 28, 2026

Brad Cohen, the longtime mayor of East Brunswick, recently launched his campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s 12th District. This was after Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman’s announcement that she will retire at the end of her term.

Cohen has served as mayor since 2017, and the main portion of his campaign aims to improve affordability and defend democratic institutions. In regards to his experience, Mayor Cohen said “As an OB-GYN, I garnered a better understanding for family and patient needs in the community. Additionally, as mayor I focused on keeping property taxes stable while overseeing development and infrastructure projects aimed at supporting local growth.”

Senior Destinee Torres said, “Cohen’s leadership style has been very divisive within our community, but I’m very excited to how this race plays out in the district. 

The race is already starting to gain attention because New Jersey’s 12th District is Democratic. This means the primary election could decide the next representative. Aside from pressing topics like healthcare and economy, student rights have also become part of debates. Cohen is a staunch supporter of freedom of speech and student rights. 

Cohen has already secured support from several Democratic leaders and organizations in Middlesex County. Supporters view him as an experienced local executive, trusting that he would be great representation, and critics argue that many voters in the district may prefer a candidate with more progressive positions on national issues.