BIOGUIDE S001221 · FEC H0MI03316
Hillary Scholten
U.S. Representative, Michigan's 3rd District (since 2023)DINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · Michigan's 3rd District
- Result
- Hillary Scholten, projected winner
- Opponents
- Terri DeBoer (R); Joe Jock (G)
- Research
- Basic
Party line17 votes tracked
Broke with Democrats on
- CLARITY Act — digital asset market structure voted yes
- GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation voted yes
- Laken Riley Act — final passage voted yes
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did5 statements · 17 votes
We must federally codify the right to reproductive care and save lives while we have the chance.
Protect legal access to abortion
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 3
2026-11-03
| Hillary Scholten D | incumbent |
| Terri DeBoer R | challenger |
| Joe Jock G | challenger |
Unopposed in the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
We must federally codify the right to reproductive care and save lives while we have the chance.
Said after the Supreme Court's Idaho emergency-abortion dismissal that the right to reproductive care must be federally codified.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
what we really need to move the needle on protecting women are gun safety laws to keep firearms out of abusers' hands
Says gun safety laws that keep firearms out of the hands of abusers are needed to protect women, in a statement on a bill addressing violence against women.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
I vote to cap the cost of critical prescription drugs and insulin, and I defend the Affordable Care Act and work every day to expand on it.
Says she defends the Affordable Care Act and works to expand it, along with capping prescription drug and insulin costs.[7]
This reality–in conjunction with tariffs raising the cost of imported goods by nearly seven percent, and domestic goods by almost five percent–is untenable and places a significant strain on communities throughout the nation.
Led a letter to President Trump that cites tariffs, along with other administration policies, as raising household costs.[11]
- YESResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[12]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 68 (119th Congress), directing the removal of U.S. forces from Venezuela not authorized by Congress.
Documented position[13]
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[14]
- YESWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[15]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[18]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
Biography
Hillary J. Scholten is the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 3rd District, which includes Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Grand Haven, and won re-election on November 3, 2026; she was first elected in 2022. A fourth-generation West Michigander, she worked as a social worker and then as an immigration attorney, including at the U.S. Department of Justice's Board of Immigration Appeals and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Hillary Scholten was born in 1982 in Michigan and raised in the Hudsonville area. Her official biography describes her as a fourth-generation West Michigander whose mother was a public school teacher, and, according to Wikipedia, her father was a sports journalist at The Grand Rapids Press.[1][2][4] She earned a bachelor's degree from Gordon College and a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Sources differ on the graduation years, so they are omitted.[1][2][4]
Scholten began her career as a social worker, working with people affected by housing and homelessness issues, according to her official biography; her campaign site says she was a case worker for the AIDS Action Committee.[2][19] After law school she clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in its unit focused on immigration, then joined the U.S. Department of Justice through the Attorney General's Honors Program, working on immigration and civil rights matters.[1][2] She served as an attorney adviser with the Justice Department's Board of Immigration Appeals (2013-2017, per Wikipedia), then as a staff attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and as senior counsel at Miller Johnson. Her campaign site also lists volunteer work as an attorney for the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund.[1][19][4]
Scholten ran for the 3rd District in 2020 and lost to Republican Peter Meijer, 47% to 53%.[4] She won the seat in 2022, defeating Republican John Gibbs 55% to 42%, and took office in January 2023; her official biography says she is the first woman and mother to represent the district. Wikipedia reports she was re-elected in 2024 with 53.7% of the vote.[2][4] Her committee assignments for 2025-2026 are Small Business and Transportation and Infrastructure.[1]
According to her official biography, Scholten lives on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, where she is raising two sons.[2] She was unopposed in the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary.[20] She won the November 3, 2026 general election with 57.1% of the vote to Terri DeBoer's 41.4%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 17 votes.
All 17 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted yes | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | Against partyvoted yes | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | Against partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted no | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted no | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted no | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | Against partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
| 2023-05-11 | With partyvoted no | Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passageH.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–211 · Republicans 219–2Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- actionIn the 119th Congress (2025–2026), serves on the House Committee on Small Business (Contracting and Infrastructure; Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development; Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains) and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Aviation; Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Water Resources and Environment).[21]
- billCosponsored the Dignity Act of 2025, bipartisan immigration legislation addressing border security, a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants, and new legal immigration pathways.[22]
In their own words
Priorities
- Leads the Lowering Costs Caucus and has pushed the administration to address rising energy prices, citing tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as factors straining household budgets.[11]
- Says Congress must overhaul the immigration system, citing her background as an immigration attorney, and cosponsored the bipartisan Dignity Act to combine border security with a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants already in the country.[22]
- Says everyone deserves access to high-quality reproductive health care and has hosted local roundtables on the issue.[23]
Campaign money$2.3M raised · 69% from individuals · FEC through 2026-07-15
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $1.5M
- PACs & committees $695K
- Party $1,120
Largest committee contributions
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee Political Action Committee PAC$27K
- Cms Energy Corporation Employees for Better Government- Federal PAC$10K
- National Multifamily Housing Council and Real Estate Technology and Transformation Center Political Action Committee (NMHC PAC) PAC$10K
- Dte Energy Company Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- American College of Radiology Association PAC PAC$10K
- American Association for Justice Political Action Committee (AAJ PAC) PAC$10K
- International Franchise Association Franchising Political Action Committee Inc PAC$10K
- Amalgamated Transit Union - COPE PAC$10K
- Allied Pilots Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Mitten PAC PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/hillary-j-scholten
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 40 of 467 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (14), Jobs & cost of living (9), Foreign affairs & defense (7)
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act
What it does: Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 This bill prohibits institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs from engaging in boycotts against Israel.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 33–167, Republicans 203–2
Sep 3, 2026Official record ↗
Main Street Act
What it does: Main Street Capital Access Act or the Main Street Act This bill lessens and otherwise modifies banking regulations, including those regarding institution formation, supervision by federal financial regulators, and ban…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 56–154, Republicans 213–1
Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Boebert) to H.R. 8800 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
A yes vote supported an H.R. 8800 amendment that strikes section 518, a pilot program using voice-based risk assessment technology to identify servicemembers for drug testing. (AI-written)
What it does: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2027 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs, activities, and military construction as well as the national…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 175–37, Republicans 90–123
Jul 21, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- No
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 3 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Hillary Scholten · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Official record
- 3.Michigan's 3rd District U.S. House election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 4.Hillary Scholten · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 5.Rep. Scholten Responds to Emergency Abortion Supreme Court News · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
- 6.Rep. Scholten Responds to House Republicans Using Women's Safety to Push Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten · 2024-09-18 Candidate's own words
- 7.Healthcare · Hillary Scholten for Congress · 2022-02-01 Candidate's own words
- 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 10.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 11.Economy · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
- 12.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 13.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 14.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 15.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 16.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 17.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
- 18.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 19.Meet Hillary · Hillary Scholten for Congress Candidate's own words
- 20.Terri DeBoer · Ballotpedia Reference
- 21.Hillary Scholten · Ballotpedia Reference
- 22.Reps. Scholten, Salazar, and Escobar Reintroduce Historic Bipartisan Immigration Legislation · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
- 23.Rep. Scholten Hosts Reproductive Health Roundtable on 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words