Hillary Scholten

Hillary Scholten
Born	Hillary Jeanne Scholten 22 2, 1982
Birthplace	Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	U.S. Representative from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
Spouse(s)	Jesse Holcomb
Children	2
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Hillary Jeanne Scholten (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born February 22, 1982) is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 3rd congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Scholten made history as the first woman to represent the district and the first Democrat to represent Grand Rapids in Congress since the 1970s—a seat once held by former President Gerald Ford. Before entering Congress, Scholten worked as an immigration attorney for the Department of Justice and in private practice. Her path to elected office was shaped by her legal career and her roots in West Michigan, where she grew up and returned to raise her family. In the 119th Congress, Scholten serves as Vice Ranking Member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Early Life

Hillary Jeanne Scholten was born on February 22, 1982, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She grew up in the Grand Rapids area, which is the principal city of West Michigan and has long been a center of conservative and Republican politics. The congressional district encompassing Grand Rapids had been represented by Republicans for decades, most notably by Gerald Ford, who served as the district's representative before becoming Vice President and then President of the United States.

Scholten's upbringing in the region informed her later career choices and political identity. She has spoken publicly about her Christian faith and its influence on her worldview, a notable aspect of her political profile in a district with deep ties to the Christian Reformed tradition and other faith communities prevalent in West Michigan.

Career

Legal Career

Before entering politics, Scholten built a career as an attorney with a focus on immigration law. She worked for the United States Department of Justice, where she served as an immigration attorney. Her work with the federal government provided her with direct experience in the immigration system, an issue that would later become central to her political campaigns and congressional work. Scholten also practiced law in the private sector, further developing her legal expertise before transitioning to political life.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Scholten first ran for Congress in 2020, entering the race for Michigan's 3rd Congressional District. She announced her candidacy in July 2019, joining the Democratic primary field after Representative Justin Amash left the Republican Party and ultimately decided not to seek reelection. Her entry into the race was driven in part by her background as an immigration attorney, and she positioned herself as a candidate who could speak to the district's diverse constituencies.

During the 2020 campaign cycle, Scholten proved to be a competitive fundraiser. She raised $1.5 million in the race, surpassing her Republican rival Peter Meijer in fundraising during certain reporting periods. The race attracted national attention, as it was seen as one of the more competitive contests in Michigan. Jewish Insider covered the contest as one of several notable races in the cycle.

Despite her strong fundraising and campaign efforts, Scholten lost the general election to Peter Meijer, a Republican and member of the Meijer retail family. Meijer won the seat in the November 2020 election.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following her defeat in 2020, Scholten announced in February 2022 that she would again seek the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Congressional District. The political landscape had shifted significantly since her first run. Michigan's congressional districts had been redrawn following the 2020 census by the state's independent redistricting commission. The new 3rd District map altered the composition of the district, making it more competitive for Democrats.

The Republican primary for the district also played a significant role in shaping the general election contest. John Gibbs, a former official in the Trump administration, defeated the incumbent Meijer in the August 2022 Republican primary. Meijer, who had voted to impeach President Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack, faced a primary challenge from the right. Gibbs won the closely contested primary.

The general election between Scholten and Gibbs attracted substantial national attention. Gibbs, who had promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, was viewed by many political analysts as a weaker general election candidate than Meijer would have been. Scholten won the November 2022 general election, defeating Gibbs and flipping the seat for Democrats. Her victory made her the first woman to represent the district and the first Democrat to hold the Grand Rapids-based seat since the 1970s, ending a Republican hold on the district that had lasted roughly half a century.

Tenure in Congress

118th Congress (2023–2025)

Scholten was sworn into office on January 3, 2023, at the start of the 118th Congress. As a freshman member of the House Democratic caucus, she represented a district that included Grand Rapids and much of the urban core of West Michigan. Her predecessor in the seat was Peter Meijer, who had served one term before losing in the 2022 Republican primary.

During her first term, Scholten worked on issues related to transportation and infrastructure, reflecting the needs of her West Michigan district. She also continued to engage with immigration policy, drawing on her professional background as an immigration attorney.

119th Congress (2025–present)

In the 119th Congress, Scholten assumed the role of Vice Ranking Member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, a significant position within the committee's Democratic leadership structure. In this capacity, she has participated in hearings related to the Water Resources Development Act and oversight of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Bipartisan Legislative Work

Scholten has engaged in bipartisan legislative efforts during her time in Congress. In October 2025, she introduced legislation with Representative Troy Downing (R-MT) aimed at helping small businesses develop literacy in artificial intelligence. The bipartisan bill reflected a growing congressional interest in addressing the impact of AI technology on the economy and small business operations.

ICE Detention Oversight

In February 2026, Scholten, along with Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, conducted an oversight visit to the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, the largest ICE detention facility in the Midwest. The visit was prompted by concerns over the death of a detainee named Nenko Gantchev, who died in ICE custody at the facility in December 2025.

According to reporting by the Michigan Advance, the congresswomen received no clear answers regarding the circumstances of Gantchev's death during their visit and tour of the facility. Following the visit, Stevens and Scholten called for accountability and raised concerns about detainee conditions and the need for greater oversight of immigration detention facilities. The visit and subsequent press statements highlighted Scholten's continued engagement with immigration-related issues in her congressional role, consistent with her pre-congressional career as an immigration attorney.

Campaign Finance

Scholten's campaign finance records are maintained by the Federal Election Commission. Her candidate filings reflect her campaigns in both the 2020 and 2022 election cycles for Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.

Personal Life

Scholten is married to Jesse Holcomb, and the couple has two children. They reside in the Grand Rapids area, where Scholten grew up. She has spoken publicly about her Christian faith and its role in her life and public service, a significant aspect of her identity in a district with strong religious traditions.

Electoral History

In her 2020 race for Michigan's 3rd Congressional District, Scholten lost to Republican Peter Meijer in the general election. She ran again in 2022, winning the Democratic primary and then defeating Republican John Gibbs in the general election to flip the seat. Presidential election results overlaid onto the redrawn congressional district showed the territory to be more favorable to Democrats than the prior configuration.

Legacy

Scholten's election to Congress in 2022 was a milestone in the history of Michigan's 3rd Congressional District. As the first woman and first Democrat in roughly five decades to represent the Grand Rapids-based district, her victory marked the end of an extended period of Republican dominance in a seat once held by Gerald Ford. The confluence of redistricting, the Republican primary outcome that elevated a more polarizing candidate in John Gibbs, and Scholten's own campaign efforts contributed to this historic result.

Her background as an immigration attorney has distinguished her among members of the House, providing her with subject-matter expertise on one of the most prominent and contested policy areas in American politics. Her continued engagement with immigration oversight—including the 2026 ICE detention facility visit—reflects the intersection of her professional experience and legislative responsibilities.

In the 119th Congress, her elevation to Vice Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee places her in a leadership position within the Democratic caucus on that committee, indicating her growing influence within the House Democratic conference during her second term.