Watson Coleman and ten other Black New Jersey leaders commend Caldwell for stepping down and respect Sherrill's decision
Bonnie Watson ColemanU.S. representative for New Jersey's 12th district, and one of 11 signers of a joint statement by Black New Jersey elected officials, clergy and civic leaders
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman was one of 11 signers of a joint statement by Black New Jersey elected officials, clergy and civic leaders. The statement commended Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell for stepping down, said the signers respect the difficult decision Gov. Mikie Sherrill made, and said accountability matters.
“We commend and appreciate Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell for making what we know could not have been an easy decision By choosing to step down and ending this controversy, he has put the interests of the people of New Jersey and the work of our state ahead of himself We also respect the difficult decision Governor Sherrill made Public service comes with an extraordinary responsibility to maintain the trust of the people we are privileged to serve. Accountability matters, and when difficult circumstances arise, leadership sometimes requires making difficult decisions”
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should Dale Caldwell resign as New Jersey's lieutenant governor after the investigation's findings?
On September 24, 2026, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a 61-page report, with exhibits, by the law firm Lowenstein Sandler LLP and called on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign by the next day. The firm, engaged by the Governor's Chief Ethics Officer after an anonymous complaint dated May 6, found that Caldwell made a comment to a female staffer that constituted sexual harassment under the state workplace policy, and that he violated state ethics rules by bringing personal guests to ticketed events without payment and by seeking a promotion for a state employee with whom he had a romantic relationship. Caldwell, through his lawyer Thomas Calcagni, disputes all three findings, denies making the comment, and says the process was one-sided and lacked due process; in a May 28 letter he called the complaint's accusations false. Republican leaders called for him to resign or step down before the report was released. The Associated Press reports that the Governor cannot fire a lieutenant governor and that the Legislature can impeach and remove one. The statement issued for Caldwell on September 24 did not say whether he would resign. On September 25, Sherrill announced that Caldwell had resigned, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News report. In a statement on his resignation, Caldwell said it should not be read as an admission of wrongdoing and that he strongly disputes the report; his lawyer said counsel would continue to challenge it.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
New Jersey Globe report on the joint statement by Black elected officials, clergy and civic leaders on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell's resignation. It names the signers.
Reporting
About this source
Gothamist's report on Caldwell's resignation, which says 11 Black New Jersey politicians issued a statement shortly ahead of Sherrill's announcement and names three of the signers.
Before the quotation
Gov. Mikie Sherrill released an investigation report on September 24 that found allegations of sexual harassment and ethics violations against Caldwell substantiated, and gave him until September 25 to resign. Caldwell disputes the findings. The signers released their statement shortly before Sherrill announced on September 25 that he had resigned.
After the quotation
The statement went on to urge state leaders to turn to protecting elections, addressing racial disparities identified in the state's Disparity Study and expanding economic opportunity. The New Jersey Globe lists the other signers, including Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Democratic State Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones and former Secretaries of State DeForest Soaries and Regena Thomas.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case asks whether Caldwell should resign after the investigation's findings and Sherrill's call for him to leave office. The signers said they respect the difficult decision Sherrill made and that accountability matters, and they described Caldwell's stepping down as putting the state ahead of himself. They also commended Caldwell personally, and the quoted text does not address the report's findings. That combines support for his leaving office with praise for him rather than criticism of the conduct in the report, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Dale Caldwell, Mikie Sherrill
More from this case
Read the full caseCaldwell calls the investigation's report "specious" and says he is not resigning because of it
“The report, I think, was just specious. There are all sorts of wrong things and mistakes. I'm not resigning because of that ridiculous report. I'm resigning because I don't want to be a distraction to the Mikie Sherrill administration.”Read statement
Kim says Caldwell should resign immediately after the investigation report
“New Jerseyans deserve to have public servants who work to earn and keep their trust, not undermine it The findings of the independent report are unacceptable. The Lt. Governor should resign immediately.”Read statement
Booker says Caldwell should resign after the investigation report
“Governor Sherrill is absolutely right the conduct described in the investigative report is totally unacceptable For the sake of our state Lt. Governor Caldwell should resign.”Read statement
Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
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- Watson Coleman and ten other Black New Jersey leaders commend Caldwell for stepping down and respect Sherrill's decision
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The Dispute Index. "Watson Coleman and ten other Black New Jersey leaders commend Caldwell for stepping down and respect Sherrill's decision". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2860-rep-bonnie-watson-coleman-was-one-of-11