Hillary Scholten

Hillary Scholten grew up with a public school teacher for a mother and a local newspaperman for a father.¹ She is raising two sons in Grand Rapids, where the family also has a dog, Smoky.² Away from Congress, she describes hers as a camping, hiking and fishing family.¹

Scholten began her career as a social worker helping people facing homelessness and housing insecurity, including LGBTQ people.² She earned her law degree at the University of Maryland's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, then clerked in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' immigration unit.² She subsequently joined the Justice Department through its Attorney General Honors Program, working on immigration and civil rights matters.²

She entered Congress in 2023 and founded the Lowering Costs Caucus.³ In 2025, she and Republican Representative John James introduced a national child care pilot proposal, sharing costs among parents, employers and state and federal governments.⁴ The bill builds on Michigan's existing Tri-Share program.⁵

Her current priorities include prescription drug affordability, increasing housing supply, protecting public education and expanding access to skilled trades.³ She opposes broad tariffs on allies such as Canada and supports stronger disclosure of data centers' energy and water use.³ She also supports abortion rights, paid family leave and protecting people with existing health conditions from insurance discrimination.¹