The Class of 2013: 13 congressional freshmen to watch

They’re all sworn in and rarin’ to go. The congressional class of 2013 is big, rowdy and the most diverse in history. Here are 13 new representatives and senators to watch in coming years:

Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina

He’s made history by becoming the first African American Republican from the former Confederacy to serve in the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. He’s also a leader of Tea Party conservatives and budget hawks.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

Once the first Hispanic Supreme Court law clerk, he’s now the first Texas senator of Latino ancestry. Elected with the endorsement of Sarah Palin, Jim DeMint, FreedomWorks and the Club for Growth, he’s expected to be a leading advocate of “constitutional conservatism.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts

This consumer advocate and Harvard law professor is a hero to liberal activists. They have high expectations that President Obama’s former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director will be a vocal and articulate critic of capitalist excess.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin

The first openly gay U.S. senator has a track record as a liberal who gets things done.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia

The former Virginia governor and Democratic National Committee chair was on Barack Obama’s short list for vice president in 2008. Centrist Democrats see Kaine as a pragmatist who can bring lawmakers together across party lines.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona

This Southwestern conservative was a leader among spending hawks in the House of Representatives. He’s expected to be an important player in Republican attempts to rein in government spending.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas

The congressional half of the Castro brothers San Antonio political dynasty, he’s already been elected president of the freshman Democratic class. Texas Democrats — and Latino leaders — are expecting great things from the former Texas state representative.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii

A 31-year-old combat veteran who has served two deployments, she is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member ever to serve in Congress. A former Hawaii state representative, she was the youngest woman serving as a state legislator. She is currently a Company Commander with the Hawaii Army National Guard. In her spare time, she co-founded an environmental nonprofit.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois

An Army helicopter pilot and double amputee, she is the first disabled woman ever elected to the House of Representatives. The first U.S. lawmaker born in Thailand, she was President Obama’s Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. She remains a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, where she serves alongside her husband, also an Iraq War vet.

Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Massachusetts

Anyone named Kennedy and hailing from Massachusetts is going to generate a fair amount of attention. This Harvard law grad appears ready for the scrutiny.

Rep. Luke Messer, R-Indiana

After losing congressional primary campaigns to Mike Pence and Dan Burton, this former Indiana Republican Party chairman is headed to the House of Representatives. Former CEO of School Choice Indiana, he’s an able advocate on education issues. Hailed as a strong leader, he’s president of the GOP’s freshman class.

Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Missouri

A former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, the longtime GOP activist has deep ties to both Presidents Bush. George W. Bush appointed her ambassador to Luxembourg. The current GOP freshman class picked her for a leadership post.

Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Texas

One of the most effective Democrats in the Texas Legislature, he knows what it’s like to get things done while serving in the minority. Personable and hard-working, colleagues have high hopes that he will become a coalition-builder on Capitol Hill.