He's been on the Hill before, but he'll be fresh to the Senate. Rep. Tim Scott will be one of the most conservative members of the Senate when fills the seat left vacant by the departure of Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.
According to the National Journal’s rankings, Tim Scott is tied for 80th place as the most conservative member in the House, meaning that people like Michele Bachmann and Paul Ryan are more liberal than him.
He's a favorite from the Tea Party as well as House leadership: Scott was one of the 28 GOP freshmen who voted against funding the government for six more months in September, but was also one of the two freshmen selected for the Elected Leadership Committee. He was asked to serve as Deputy Whip.
The New Republic declared Scott to be "an insurgent Tea Partier beloved by the House leadership who keeps his constituents happy with the occasional pork project. In a Republican Party that is constantly at war with itself, Senator Scott will offer much more to the GOP than the color of his skin."
Next up: Texas' Latino Tea Partier Ted Cruz