Who Is Hillary Scholten? Heartbroken Michigan Rep. Reveals Husband of 20 Years Suddenly Left Family and Then Demanded Divorce
A Democratic congresswoman in Michigan shared on Friday that her husband “suddenly” walked out on their family and filed for divorce earlier this year, after two decades of marriage. Michigan Representative Hillary Scholten, 44, released a statement, saying she was caught off guard by her husband Jesse Holcomb’s decision to end their marriage.
“I want to share something personal,” the devastated mother of two wrote. “Earlier this year, our family went through a heartbreaking change when my husband of 20 years suddenly left our family home and then filed for divorce.” The heartbroken lawmaker shared the devastating news in a letter to her constituents, which she later posted on X.
Complete Shock
She also explained that she has been raising her two sons on her own since her husband left. “With the help of incredible family and friends, and through my unshakable, foundational faith in God, I have been raising my boys with strength, love, and stability,” she wrote. “We have been overcoming every day.”
Scholten is widely viewed as an up-and-coming figure in her party and made history in 2023 by becoming the first Democrat in nearly 50 years to represent Grand Rapids in Congress.
She last posted a photo with her husband in January, and just last year had shared a Valentine’s Day message calling him her “forever Valentine.” This year, however, there was no such post.
Her husband, Jesse Holcomb, is a journalism professor at Calvin University.
In her letter, Scholten reassured her constituents that despite going through a divorce, she has no intention of stepping away from her public duties.
“Despite this personal hardship, I have continued to show up for you in every way too,” she wrote.
No Compromise
Scholten added that she is dedicated to her duties. “I’ve passed legislation, brought dollars back to the district, and served my constituents – and I will continue doing just that. I raised my hand to do this job because I wanted more people who have never been heard to have a voice. As a woman, a mother, a social worker, and a public interest lawyer, I carry stories with me that are not often told in the halls of power.
“Nothing in my current situation changes that,” she said. “In fact, it deepens it.”
Scholten is among several Michigan Democrats who have gone through divorces in recent years.
Representative Haley Stevens, for example, separated from her husband in 2022 after just a year of marriage.
That was followed by then-Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, who divorced her husband, Dave Moore, in 2023—just a year before she went on to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
