The New Faces in the Senate : Profiles of the 13 freshmen who will take office in January.

Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), age 50. Five-term congresswoman from Baltimore. Political veteran raised in the city’s Polish-American area. First gained attention as a neighborhood activist, served on City Council before her first election to the House. Liberal voting record, but retains strong ties to traditional ethnic roots.

Bob Graham (D-Fla.), age 49. Governor for the past eight years. Harvard-educated millionaire. As governor, promoted a blend of economic development and land-use planning to protect the state’s beaches, swamplands and water resources. Favoring capital punishment earned him the support of many conservatives.

Terry Sanford (D-N.C.), age 69. Former president of Duke University, lawyer, governor 1960-64. One of the first Southern gubernatorial candidates to support John F. Kennedy’s presidential bid. Supported civil rights during his governorship. Ran unsuccessfully for presidential nomination in 1972 and 1976.

Richard Shelby (D-Ala.), age 52. Four-term congressman. Conservative member of the Southern Democratic “Boll Weevil” coalition that helped pass Reagan’s major economic initiatives. Opposed Voting Rights Act extension and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday. State senator from 1970-78. Former Tuscaloosa city prosecutor.

Timothy Wirth (D-Colo.), age 47. Six-term congressman. Long seen as heir-apparent to retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Hart. Vietnam veteran. Graduate of Harvard, received doctorate from Stanford. Considered an intellectual leader among party’s neo-liberals. Served in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare 1969-70.

John Breaux (D-La.), age 42. Seven-term congressman. Advertised self as effective deal-maker in tradition of retiring 38-year Democratic Sen. Russell Long. An underdog, survived opponent Rep. W. Henson Moore’s criticisms of absenteeism and extensive foreign travel. Former law partner of Gov. Edwin W. Edwards.

Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), age 38. State tax commissioner. First Democrat to unseat an incumbent Republican senator in his state since 1944. Stressed populist themes and made Reagan Administration farm policy the major campaign issue. Won by slightly more than 2,000 votes in one of the tightest Senate races.

Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), age 38. Four-term congressman. Militant opponent of Reagan Administration farm policy. Attacked incumbent, GOP Sen. James Abdnor, as ineffective spokesman for state’s farmers. Weathered controversy following appearance with actress and anti-war activist Jane Fonda at campaign fundraiser in California.

Brock Adams (D-Wash.), age 59. Former secretary of transportation in Carter Administration, congressman 1965-77, lawyer. Assailed incumbent, Republican Slade Gorton, for favoring a nuclear waste dump in the state. Portrayed himself as heir-apparent to Democratic ex-Sens. Warren G. Magnuson and Henry M. Jackson.

Harry Reid (D-Nev.), age 46. Two-term congressman whose victory is an embarrassment to retiring GOP Sen. Paul Laxalt. Was criticized by opponent, Jim Santini, as a “big-spending” liberal. Opposes abortion, the equal rights amendment and gun control. Supports Reagan foreign policy and death penalty. Strong environmentalist.

John McCain (R-Ariz.), age 50. Two-term congressman, former Navy officer and Vietnam prisoner of war. Projects low-key conservatism and rated as strongly conservative on economic, social and foreign affairs. Former Pentagon lobbyist. Strong supporter of Israel and President Reagan’s policy in Central America.

Wyche Fowler (D-Ga.), age 46. Five-term congressman from predominantly black district in Atlanta. Born and attended law school in Atlanta. Practicing attorney 1970-77, Atlanta alderman 1969-73, president of Atlanta City Council 1973-77. Defeated former Carter adviser Hamilton Jordan in Democratic primary.

Christopher S. Bond (R-Mo.), age 47. Twice elected governor (1973-77 and 1981-85). Formerly a moderate Republican, but aligned himself more with conservatives during this race. Former chief counsel for consumer protection in state attorney general’s office, former chairman of Republican Governors’ Assn.