Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Robinson has built her public life on fixing what’s broken—whether it was an A-10 Warthog fighter jet during her years in the United States Air Force or the critical systems of county government during some of New Jersey’s most challenging moments. Now, Robinson is aiming to take that same steady, no-nonsense approach to Congress as she seeks to represent New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District.
Robinson’s path into public service began long before elected office. Her eight years as an Air Force aircraft mechanic forged a discipline and resolve that continues to define her public leadership. Working on the A-10’s complex weapons and navigation systems demanded precision under pressure—a mindset that carried into her response to Hurricane Ida, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Somerset County’s recovery efforts. These years cemented her reputation as a leader who steps in when stakes are highest and excuses won’t do.
Now in her seventh year serving Somerset County, Robinson has made workforce development, education, and resident support pillars of her approach. She speaks often about expanding opportunities, strengthening public institutions, and ensuring that government works for the people who rely on it most—especially during moments when affordability, healthcare access, and economic stability weigh heavily on families across New Jersey.
Robinson believes that Washington is facing a crisis of its own, one marked by division, political theater, and eroded trust. Her campaign is built around a call for civility, collaboration, and an agenda focused on working-class Americans rather than partisan showmanship. She speaks plainly: “This is a moment where we have to get back to business. People are tired of the finger-pointing. They want leadership that shows up, listens, and works with others to get real things done.”
With three children and three grandchildren, Robinson frames her run as a fight for working families who feel forgotten or priced out. As someone who spent more than two decades at St. Peter’s Hospital, she has strong views on healthcare access—arguing that dignified, compassionate care should be treated as a right, not a privilege. She supports universal healthcare and believes taxpayers deserve far more value and fairness in the system than they receive today.
Her relationship with retiring Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman is both personal and political. Robinson credits Watson Coleman as a mentor whose advocacy for women, families, and underserved communities shaped her own sense of purpose. Stepping into the seat of a trailblazer, she says, would be an honor—and a responsibility she is ready to shoulder.
Robinson’s personal history deepens her connection with voters who have endured hardship or trauma. As a survivor of domestic violence, she speaks openly about using her platform to advocate for women, reproductive rights, maternal health, and those who often feel unseen by public institutions. She draws inspiration from her family’s military lineage—her father served in Vietnam, and her grandfather served in World War II and Korea—and says her Christian faith guides her commitment to compassion and service.
Her record in Somerset County shows a focus on long-term planning and community investment. She championed major expansions at Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools and Raritan Valley Community College to ensure residents have access to competitive job training and career pathways. She also worked to embed social workers with police departments following the murder of George Floyd, seeking to strengthen trust, expand support for vulnerable individuals, and build safer, healthier communities.
Infrastructure has been another priority. Robinson helped drive forward essential sewage system upgrades, disaster-response improvements, and modernization efforts across the county. These investments reflect the same mindset she brought to her days as a mechanic: identify what’s failing, diagnose the root cause, and fix the problem before it becomes catastrophic.
Her experience breaking barriers goes back decades. Robinson remembers being one of only a handful of women—and even fewer African American women—in massive Air Force hangars in states like Mississippi, Texas, and Colorado. Those environments shaped her conviction that success depends on mission, not politics. That belief now underscores her view of Congress: the job is to repair, stabilize, and strengthen government so it better serves the people who depend on it.
Robinson also speaks often about strengthening New Jersey’s economic landscape and supporting local innovation—a topic deeply connected to the state’s evolving business sector. Residents can explore more about New Jersey’s business community through our business features, which highlight the people, organizations, and initiatives driving growth statewide.
Now, Robinson hopes to take her blend of discipline, compassion, and problem-solving to a national stage. Just as she once repaired the systems that kept Air Force aircraft mission-ready, she wants to help restore the systems that hold up American government. As she frames it, the task ahead is repairing the engine of democracy itself—and ensuring the people of New Jersey’s 12th District get the strong, steady leadership they deserve.
