United States Representative Hillary Scholten’s first term in Congress officially began Tuesday as the newly elected Democrat was sworn in.
Scholten on Tuesday becomes the first-ever woman to represent West Michigan in the United States House as she takes over the 3rd Congressional District.
Scholten in November beat Republican John Gibbs in the general election, after Gibbs had then defeated United States Representative Peter Meijer in the August primary. Many in Michigan’s GOP Party called for Meijer’s ousting after the first term congressman voted to impeach President Donald Trump following the January 6th insurrection at the nation’s capital building.
Following her victory in November, Scholten thanked the voters of West Michigan for the historical vote.
“We have made a declarative statement here in West Michigan, about who we are, and what we stand for,” Scholten said.
As well as the first female congresswoman ever in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, Scholten becomes its first Democrat Representative since Howard Wolpe’s first victory in 1979. He went on to serve until 1993.
