Tuesday's blue tsunami is poised to sweep an unusually large cohort of House Democrats into office who are virtually unknown outside of their districts.

Why it matters: Obscure though these incoming lawmakers may be on Capitol Hill, they are poised to play a major role in determining the direction of the Democratic Party.

House Democrats' progressive and centrist wings are both looking to recruit as many of these so-called "wave babies" as possible to grow their strength for the ideological fights ahead, Axios reported on Wednesday.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' PAC, told Axios some of these candidates applied for her group's endorsement but didn't get it because "honestly....…