Key Takeaways
Hillary Scholten is the first woman and the first Democrat in nearly 50 years to represent her Grand Rapids-based district in Congress.
Before her election, she was an attorney for the Department of Justice during the Obama administration, specializing in immigration law.
She also worked as a social worker and an attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, giving her a deep background in advocacy.
She serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where she is a key advocate for protecting the Great Lakes and addressing PFAS water contamination.
“From the Department of Justice to the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Hillary Scholten’s career as an attorney and advocate has been a prelude to her historic role as the first woman to represent West Michigan.”
Hillary Scholten: A Historic Voice for West Michigan
Representative Hillary Scholten’s election in 2022 was a historic political shift, making her the first woman to ever represent Michigan’s 3rd District and the first Democrat to hold the Grand Rapids-based seat in nearly half a century. Her background as an attorney for the Department of Justice and a local immigrant rights advocate has defined her pragmatic, community-focused approach to leadership.
Scholten’s career began not in politics, but in social work and law. After law school, she clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals and was then selected for the Attorney General’s Honors Program to serve as an attorney at the Department of Justice. During the Obama administration, she worked on immigration policy, a specialty she brought back to her home state. In 2017, she returned to Grand Rapids and served as a staff attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, providing legal services to immigrants and refugees.
After an unsuccessful but close run for the seat in 2020, she ran again in 2022 and won. In Congress, Rep. Scholten has secured assignments that are critical to her district’s economy and environment. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, she is a leading voice on the protection of the Great Lakes and has made securing federal funds to clean up PFAS contamination a top priority.
As a member of the Small Business Committee and the pragmatic New Democrat Coalition, Scholten focuses on economic issues vital to West Michigan, from supporting the region’s diverse manufacturing sector to cutting red tape for local entrepreneurs. Her historic election represents a new era for her district, led by a voice deeply rooted in law, advocacy, and a commitment to public service.
Sources Used
Official Biography: https://scholten.house.gov/about
Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Hillary_Scholten
GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/hillary_scholten/456919
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