MI-03: Hillary Scholten (D)

REPLACING:

Peter Meijer (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

Miller Johnson Law Firm (Senior Counsel); Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (Staff Attorney); US Department of Justice (Judicial Law Clerk & Attorney Advisor for Board of Immigration); US Court of Appeals for the 2^nd Circuit (Immigration Staff Attorney); Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington (Representative)[ii]

EDUCATION:

JD, University of Maryland – Francis King Carey School of Law[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Healthcare; Reproductive Rights; Jobs & the Economy; Education; Social Security & Medicare; Energy & the Environment; Roads & Infrastructure; Voting Rights & Democracy Protection; Gun Safety Reform[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Scholten says she will “always be a steadfast supporter of a woman’s God-given ability to make her own healthcare decisions,” and that the decision to terminate a pregnancy “belongs with women themselves, and not detached politicians.”[v]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Scholten’s platform includes investing in Michigan’s semiconductor manufacturing capability, investing in small businesses, investing in infrastructure, and “fighting for fair wages” as well as the right for workers to collectively bargain.[vi]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

On her campaign website, Scholten pledges to support “common sense solutions” to lower healthcare and prescription drug costs. She also pledges to support policies that would ban insurance companies from raising rates on people when they get sick, denying people coverage for having a pre-existing condition, or dropping them when they get sick. She says she will “defend” and expand the Affordable Care Act and “fight efforts” to raise the retirement age or to cut or privatize the social safety net.[vii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Scholten has called for “ending horrible and inhumane immigration practices,” while touting her role as an attorney with the US Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration “to enforce just immigration laws.” She pledges to “get to work creating a bipartisan immigration reform bill that brings us into the 21^st Century.”[viii] [ix]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Scholten touts her support from local law enforcement and has pledged to “work with local mayors, police chiefs, and sheriffs to adopt reforms that make everyone in our communities across West Michigan Safer.”[x] In June 2020, she applauded the House passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a reform bill that would address chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and other priorities.[xi] She has supported Michigan’s “Jobs Court” program and applauded the US House for passing the MORE Act, which would end the federal ban on cannabis.[xii] [xiii]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Describing the right to vote and election integrity as “under attack,” Scholten advocates for ending voter suppression and expanding vote-by-mail and early-vote nationwide; ending partisan gerrymandering; and protecting against attempts to subvert or overturn election results.[xiv]

EDUCATION:

Scholten supports compensating teachers “fairly,” and pledges to expand job training, apprenticeship programs, and skilled trade programs.[xv]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

On her campaign website, Scholten calls for investing in renewable energy as well as tapping US oil reserves “right now” to bring down the cost of energy. She also supports tax credits for renewable energy, reducing reliance on foreign oil, and protecting drinking water from PFAS and other chemicals.[xvi]

GUN SAFETY:

A Moms Demand Action “Gun Sense” candidate, Scholten has committed to universal background checks, safe gun storage laws, and red flag laws.[xvii] [xviii]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Scholten has described Russia’s actions in Ukraine as “war crimes” and called for Putin to be “held responsible.”[xix]