The crowded race for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District is shaping up as a contest largely divided along county lines in the district stretching from Trenton to Plainfield.

The district is considered safely Democratic, making the winner of the June 2 primary the overwhelming favorite in the November general election.

The latest development came March 11, when the Middlesex County Democratic organization endorsed East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen.

The Democratic primary field includes Sue Altman, Cohen, Trenton activist Elijah Dixon, small‑business owner Kyle Little, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds‑Jackson, Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson and West Windsor Democrat Sujit Singh.

Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman Kevin P. McCabe called 2026 a pivotal election year and cited Cohen’s record of local leadership as a key reason for the endorsement.

“I have known Mayor Cohen as the mayor of East Brunswick, and he has helped transform that community,” McCabe said. “I am excited to see him bring the change he has brought to Route 18 to Washington. The progress we believe in does not happen by accident — it takes electing the right people.”

“Strong to severe” storms moving into New Jersey from Sunday night into Monday may include thundershowers, flash floods, excessive rainfall, and an eventual change to snow, forecasters say.

“Meteorologists are sounding the alarm for a widespread multiday severe risk stretching across the central and eastern United States from Sunday afternoon into Monday,” said Accuweather. “Over a dozen states will be at risk for severe thunderstorms.”

Rain will fall overnight into early Monday morning, dumping as much of a half inch on parts of the state, the NWS says.

“There is an increasing potential for strong to severe thunderstorms Monday along and ahead of a strong cold front,” the NWS says. “Localized flash flooding will also be possible.” Tornadoes may be spawned in some areas, forecasters say.

Commuting Concerns

“While Sunday will be dry, rains will begin Sunday night,” the NWS noted. “These are the forecasted rain totals through Tuesday morning.”

During the day on Monday, heavy rain and winds could cause problems on roads and airports.

“Downpours reducing visibility and causing ponding on roadways can also impact the [Monday] evening commute,” Accuweather said. “Ground stops can also occur at airports throughout the region.”

Forecasters also warned that a “March Megastorm” — which is expected to bring blizzard conditions to the Midwest on Monday — will likely impact the Northeast.

“Wind gusts of 40-60 mph are expected across the central and eastern U.S. Sunday and Monday, from New Mexico to Maine,” they say. “These winds alone can create hazardous travel for high-profile vehicles and may bring down tree limbs and power lines, especially in areas already weakened by recent storms.”

Snow Later

The cold front may lead to snowfall on Monday night as temperatures descend into the 30s. There’s a more than 50 percent chance of snow in the northernmost regions of the state, the NWS says.

While forecasters don’t predict much accumulation, they expect flurries or snow showers in North Jersey Monday into early Tuesday, ending by 8 a.m.

Temperatures will continue tumbling.

“A much colder air mass settles in for Tuesday with temperatures struggling to reach 40 degrees in some areas,” the NWS says. “A gusty westerly wind will also add a chill factor with wind chill values down into the upper teens to low 20s early Tuesday morning.”

• Private high schools, specifically, cost New Jersey parents an average of $23,783 a year in 2026.

Shopping for a New Jersey private school? A new report from the Private School Review finds the average cost for a year of private school in New Jersey is $18,825 in 2026.

Private high schools, specifically, cost New Jersey parents an average of $23,783 a year in 2026, according to the report. Elementary schools were slightly less expensive, with an average cost of $18,301 per year.

New Jersey’s private school costs are higher than the national average, which are $12,500 for private elementary school and $16,200 for private high school, according Private School Review.

Despite the high cost, private schools remain popular with many parents across the state. In 2021, New Jersey had 210,580 students enrolled in 1,050 private schools, according to the National Center of Education Statistics.

The Lawrenceville School in Mercer County is New Jersey’s most expensive private school, according to Private School Review. Tuition at this boarding school and college prep academy exceeds $80,000 annually, according to the website.

According to Private School Review, New Jersey’s six most expensive private schools are: