WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Blue Wave swelled into a tsunami when California’s Orange County flipped entirely Democrat.

One freshman is already making a mark on Capitol Hill as a leader in environmental protection. Congressman Mike Levin said he is enjoying his first year representing a district that stretches from Del Mar to Dana Point, including parts of southern Orange County where he grew up.

RELATED l Orange County Turns Blue As Democrats Outnumber Republicans

“I went to college at Stanford, law school at Duke and I went back to Orange County and raised my own family there,” said Levin.

Levin’s passion has always been taking care of the environment. He had started at an OC trade organization for the clean energy industry and quickly worked his way up.

“By background, I’m an environmental attorney, I’ve been involved in the clean energy industry for about 15 years,” said Levin.

During his first year in office, Levin introduced legislation that secured millions of dollars to help with environmental issues, like removing spent nuclear fuel from power plants, including the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.

“So I’ve done a lot of work on renewable energy and sustainability,” said Levin. “Trying to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

He also helped pass six bipartisan bills through the House, primarily to help veterans. The bills included the expansion of counseling for vet centers, and a plan to improve the transition, housing, and education benefits at Veteran Affairs.

“So for those who say nothing in a bipartisan manner ever happens in Washington, I will turn to the veteran's affairs committee and proudly say that everything we are doing in that committee right now is being done in a bipartisan basis,” said Levin.

This fresh face said the job comes with a new set of challenges. He thought his biggest hurdle would be to win the 2018 election in a district where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

“We had an incredibly competitive election,” he said.

But after the election, Levin realized that the hardest part would be his heartache.

“The reality is I can’t be there every day the way I wish I were at and that’s the toughest part of this job for me is not being able to spend that time with them because I really enjoy my wife and I love spending time with her in with my kids,” said Levin. “And so I miss them every day that I’m here, but I also know that I’m trying to serve a greater good and I hope in time, they’ll know why their dad’s gone to try to serve the greater good.”