Democratic Women’s Caucus Elects New Vice Chairs: Rep. Hillary Scholten and Rep. Emilia Sykes
CONTACT: Lizzie Johnson, (202)-590-6073, lizzie.johnson@mail.house.gov (DWC)
Today, Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) for the 119th Congress elected Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03) to serve as the DWC Vice Chairs. This follows Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández’s (NM-03) election to DWC Chair earlier this month. Vice Chairs Scholten and Sykes have both advocated tirelessly for women and families in their communities and across the country since joining Congress in 2023.
Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) issued the following statement on the election:
“Vice Chairs Scholten and Sykes are tireless advocates for women and families in their communities and across the United States. Their leadership in the Democratic Women’s Caucus will propel us to accomplish our goals of raising the stories of how the policies in Washington, D.C. impact women and their families in every corner of the country. Together with the expertise of the 96 Democratic women in Congress, we will fight for women and families. Heading into the 119th Congress, we will seek bipartisan wins where possible, but also hold President Trump and the Republican House, Senate, and Administration accountable if they betray American women’s rights to economic prosperity, reproductive health care, and to be free from sexual violence.”
DWC Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (MI-03) issued the following statement:
“With Speaker Johnson’s less-than-governing majority, every single vote in the House will be critical. Now more than ever, the Democratic Women’s Caucus will play a huge role in shaping the future of our country.
Whether we defend against radical policies or leverage our lived experiences as women, daughters, sisters, and mothers to cultivate compromise, we will continue to deliver for working families, protect reproductive rights, and forge a better future for America’s children.
I am honored to serve as Vice Chair during this pivotal time in our nation’s story. Together with my fellow Vice Chair Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, and Chair Leger Fernández, we will usher in a tomorrow worthy of the next generation.”
DWC Vice Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued the following statement:
“I am honored to have been elected Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus for the 119th Congress, which will be our largest ever at 96 members strong—including 16 new Members.
Now as much as ever, our fight will be critical for the future of all women and girls throughout America. We will not tire in our work to advance full protection under the law, equal rights, and economic opportunity.”
Vice Chair Scholten is the first woman, mother, and Democrat ever to represent Michigan’s Third Congressional District. In Congress, she’s fought to improve education, infrastructure, and transportation investments, to solidify Americans’ fundamental freedoms, and to support small businesses. In the 118th Congress, she served on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Small Business. A fourth-generation West Michigander, Vice Chair Scholten started her career as a social worker before serving the U.S. Court of Appeals and in the Justice Department.
Vice Chair Sykes became the first Black person elected to represent Ohio’s 13th Congressional District in 2022. In Congress, she’s fought for economic opportunity, affordable health care, and reproductive health care, including leading an effort to reaffirm emergency abortion care for all Americans. In the 118th Congress, she served on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and is a Vice Chair, and soon to be Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, and a Vice Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Affordable Housing Taskforce. Before her election to Congress, Vice Chair Sykes served eight years as the State Representative for Ohio House District 34, including three years as House Minority Leader.
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