Hillary Scholten

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative, Michigan's 3rd District (since 2023)

Unopposed in the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary

Scholten is the incumbent U.S. Representative for Michigan's 3rd District, first elected in 2022. Before Congress she was an immigration attorney, including work at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the U.S. Department of Justice's Board of Immigration Appeals.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The 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.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The 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.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The 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.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.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.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The 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.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.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.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The 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.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The 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.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The 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.
  • NoSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record — official actions

  • 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).[2]
  • 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.[7]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortion

    A member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, says abortion rights need to be federally codified and criticized a Supreme Court decision for leaving emergency abortion access unresolved.[5]

    “For the first time ever, women today have less rights than our mothers and grandmothers. Reproductive care is health care, and pregnant people should not have to be at death's door to receive the care they need to stay alive.”
  • SupportsStricter gun laws

    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.[8]

    “what we really need to move the needle on protecting women are gun safety laws to keep firearms out of abusers' hands”
  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[10][11][12][13][14]

    What they say: Cosponsored the bipartisan Dignity Act, which pairs border security and infrastructure funding with a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S. and new legal pathways for asylum seekers and economic migrants.[7]

    “This historic bipartisan legislation would address border security and infrastructure challenges, tackle critical workforce development issues, create legal status for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States, establish new pathways for asylum seekers, and create new legal pathways for economic migrants and unaccompanied minors.”
  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[11][12][13][15]

    What they say: Says she defends the Affordable Care Act and works to expand it, along with capping prescription drug and insulin costs.[9]

    “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.”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[11][12][13]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[11][12][13]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[16]

In their 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.[4]
  • 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.[7]
  • Says everyone deserves access to high-quality reproductive health care and has hosted local roundtables on the issue.[6]

Background

  • Born in Michigan in 1982; earned a bachelor's degree from Gordon College (2002) and a J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law (2012).[2]
  • Worked as senior counsel at Miller Johnson, as a staff attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, and as a judicial law clerk and attorney advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice Board of Immigration Appeals.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $2.3M · spent $1.3M · $1.4M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

Also on the ballot for this seat: Terri DeBoer, Joe Jock · Compare side by side

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 2.Hillary Scholten · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 4.Economy · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
  3. 5.Rep. Scholten Responds to Emergency Abortion Supreme Court News · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
  4. 6.Rep. Scholten Hosts Reproductive Health Roundtable on 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
  5. 7.Reps. Scholten, Salazar, and Escobar Reintroduce Historic Bipartisan Immigration Legislation · Office of Rep. Hillary Scholten Candidate's own words
  6. 8.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. 10.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  8. 11.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  9. 12.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  10. 13.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  11. 14.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  12. 15.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  13. 16.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record