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(Correction: Richard Blumnethal was not the only Democrat elected in the 2010 midterms. Sens. Chris Coons (Dela.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) were also elected that year, but were sworn in immediately to fill seats left by Joe Biden and the late Robert Byrd.)

When Senator-elect Rep. Gary Peters crosses Capitol Hill to attend his Senate freshman orientation this week, he will be the lone Democrat in a room of celebratory Republicans.

Four years ago Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) was in a similar, yet not quite as intimidating, situation.

Blumenthal was very aware that he was one of the only Democratic Senate hopefuls to emerge victorious in a midterm election that was dreadful for his party, he told the Loop. The excitement over your own success may be a bit tempered by the partys dramatic losses, but Blumenthal said that in politics there is always hope for the next round when we can replenish our ranks.

He also had a leg up on his Republican peers that Peters will not: He was joining the majority party. Knowing that gave me protective armor, Blumenthal said.

But he doesnt want Peters to worry about being the odd man out. Blumenthal described his fellow GOP classmates as extraordinarily gracious as they went through the process of learning how the Senate operates together.

Everybody has the same kind of questions, like How do we know if were going to have Friday off to go home?, Blumenthal said, adding that they quickly learned they dont. Theres lots of common questions and mysteries to the first few days and the first few years as Ive learned, a lot of written and unwritten rules that have to be mastered regardless of party.

Coming from the House, Peters (D-Mich.) is also used to working alongside Republicans. Ive been working in the Republican-controlled House for the past few years, so I know how to build relationships with members of the other party and find bipartisan common ground, he said in an e-mail.

But being the lone member of their party in the freshman class is fairly unique. In 2006, a banner years for Democrats, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) was the only new Republican senator. But in most years theres usually at least a few newbies from each party.

But President Obama can take heart that at least one Democrat made it to the Senate in each of his terms midterm elections. In the 1994 midterms in President Clintons first term, every new senator elected was a Republican.

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In the Loop: Being the only Democrat at freshman orientation