A Michigan congresswoman from the Democratic party disclosed on Friday that her husband unexpectedly departed from their family and initiated divorce proceedings earlier this year, following two decades of marriage.
Rep. Hillary Scholten shared this personal update on her X account, expressing her desire to be transparent with her constituents regarding the separation from her husband, Jesse Holcomb.
“I feel it’s important to share something personal,” she wrote, as a mother of two.
“Earlier this year, our family experienced a significant and painful transition when my husband of 20 years abruptly left our home and subsequently filed for divorce.”
Scholten acknowledged the support from family, friends, and her faith, which have been instrumental in helping her provide her sons with “strength, love, and stability.”
“We are facing each day with resilience,” stated Scholten, who represents Grand Rapids.
Court records reviewed by the Detroit News indicate that Holcomb filed for divorce on Jan. 26 in Kent County Circuit Court.
An email seeking comment from Holcomb, who is a journalism professor, was not immediately returned.
Scholten, 44, has shared numerous photos of the now-former couple on her Instagram page, including in a Christmas greeting with the entire family last December.
The official biography on her congressional page now only mentions her raising her two sons and taking care of the family dog.
The lawmaker, who is up for reelection this year, also insisted that despite the heartbreak, she’s passed legislation and is dedicated to her constituents.
Scholten also stressed she’s “grown an extra chamber in my heart for moms and dads out there who have had to go through this.”
“I honor your work and, and I am fighting for you,” she wrote.
“It goes without saying that this a deeply personal matter. But you put me in a position of trust, and I want to be up front with you about a big change in my life,” Scholten wrote.
