Overview
Michigan's 3rd Congressional District covers Kent County (Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Cascade Township, Ada Township, Rockford) plus parts of Ionia and Montcalm counties. It is represented by Rep. Hillary Scholten (D), who flipped the seat in 2022 and narrowly held it in 2024.
The district is closely divided: Trump carried MI-03 in 2024 even as Scholten won re-election. It is consistently rated one of the most competitive House seats in Michigan. The 2026 race will be decided in November — MI-03 has no competitive primary on either side as of filing, with Scholten running for a third term and facing a Republican nominee from the August 4 primary.
For Cascade Township and Ada Township residents: your U.S. House member is Hillary Scholten. She sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — committees directly relevant to road funding, water infrastructure, and immigration policy.
Scholten's Record in Congress
Hillary Scholten is a former federal immigration attorney who flipped the seat in 2022. Key elements of her first two terms:
- Transportation & Infrastructure Committee: secured earmarks for West Michigan road projects and advocated for M-6/US-131 corridor funding
- Immigration: has taken a moderate position on border security while opposing mass deportation; her immigration attorney background makes this a defining issue in both directions
- Auto industry: opposed tariffs that affect Michigan auto manufacturing; has criticized the 25% auto parts tariffs as harmful to district workers
- Water and environment: supported Great Lakes protection legislation; has raised PFAS funding in appropriations markup
- Bipartisan record: has voted with Republicans on select bills; positions herself as a consensus-builder in a competitive district
Scholten's 2024 margin was approximately 2 points in a district Trump carried by 6. Political analysts attribute her survival to strong constituent services, district-specific positioning, and name recognition built from the 2022 win.
Source: Rep. Scholten press releases · GovTrack: voting record
The Republican Field
Republicans see MI-03 as a top target for 2026 given the district's Trump lean. Multiple candidates filed for the Republican primary. The nominee will emerge from the August 4, 2026 primary.
Republican primary candidates have generally positioned on:
- Immigration enforcement: stronger border security, opposition to sanctuary policies
- Economy: tax cuts, reducing regulatory burden on West Michigan manufacturers and small businesses
- Trump alignment: supporting the Trump administration's agenda; tariff positions are complex given auto industry impact
- Education: parental rights, school choice expansion, opposition to DEI requirements in public schools
The candidate with the most institutional support and West Michigan donor base tends to win competitive Michigan House primaries. Kent County Republican primary voters skew toward business-friendly candidates over more ideological choices.
Key Issues in the Race
- Trump's 25% auto parts tariff directly affects Kent County manufacturers
- GOP nominee must balance loyalty to Trump with protecting district manufacturing jobs
- Scholten has opposed tariffs; how voters weigh this vs. immigration depends on which issue is salient in fall 2026
- Scholten's background as an immigration attorney is a double-edged sword — expertise vs. perceived softness
- West Michigan has significant immigrant communities in Grand Rapids and Wyoming
- ICE enforcement activity in Kent County has been elevated; the issue is tangible for district voters
- ACA marketplace plans cover ~80,000 Kent County residents
- Budget reconciliation proposals to restructure Medicaid affect Kent County coverage
- Scholten has highlighted district-specific healthcare access; GOP challenger must offer an alternative, not just repeal
- Federal earmarks: who brings home money for Grand Rapids infrastructure, PFAS cleanup, and the AV corridor
- Housing: federal housing vouchers and CDBG funds flow through Grand Rapids; cuts affect district residents
- Transportation: Interstate and road funding through the 2021 infrastructure law
Why This Race Matters for Cascade & Ada Township
Your U.S. House member influences several things that directly affect Township-level policy:
- PFAS remediation funding: Federal EPA grants for PFAS cleanup in Cascade Township and Kent County wells flow through appropriations bills. Your House member's committee assignments and floor votes determine whether this funding survives budget negotiations.
- Data centers and AI: Federal energy infrastructure bills (grid capacity, transmission expansion) affect whether AI data centers locate in your township or wait for grid upgrades. The House Energy and Commerce Committee shapes these rules.
- Road funding: M-6, US-131, and the Cascade Road corridor receive state and federal funding. Transportation earmarks require a House member willing and positioned to secure them.
- Immigration enforcement: Cascade and Ada townships have residents who are directly affected by federal immigration enforcement activity. Your House member's position has tangible local implications.
What to Watch
- August 4, 2026 — Republican primary determines Scholten's general election opponent; more establishment candidate vs. more Trumpist candidate produces different general election dynamics
- Fall 2026 — National political environment (Trump approval, economy, healthcare) will determine whether MI-03 leans toward its R presidential lean or toward Scholten's incumbency advantage
- Watch: outside money — DCCC and NRCC both target MI-03; watch for the first independent expenditure buys, which signal which party considers this a true toss-up
- Watch: tariff impact — If auto sector layoffs accelerate in Kent County before November, it shifts the issue environment; if the tariff impact is absorbed, the GOP can run on the economy
- November 4, 2026 — General election; MI-03 result will be one of the bellwether House races for the national picture
How to contact Rep. Scholten now: scholten.house.gov/contact or (616) 451-8383 (Grand Rapids district office)
Source: scholten.house.gov · Cook Political Report — MI-03 rating