By Karen Ocamb News Editor

(Tammy Baldwin, on the left, is sworn in as America’s first openly gay U.S. Senator. Photo via @SenateDems)

Vice President Joe Biden swore in 12 new U.S. Senators for the 113th Congress Thursday afternoon—including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who made history as the country’s first openly gay U.S. Senator. Baldwin, who made history as the state’s first female elected to the House of Representatives, became Wisconsin’s first female elected to the U.S. Senate, as well. Baldwin defeated former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, who had never lost a statewide race before Tammy. Baldwin is now one of 55 Democratic senators, to 45 Republicans.