BALTIMORE, Md. — They’ve been derided, discounted and ostracized. And that’s why Green Party candidates running for Congress say they know exactly how frustrated Americans feel.

The Green Party presented a slate of 13 candidates vying for higher office, a roster that includes six first-timers. Ursula Rozum is one of the youngest. But she remains undaunted by the prospect of facing off against Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-N.Y.) and former Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei (D).

“So yeah, I’m running for Congress,” the nose-ring wearing brunette announced before boring down into an agenda that includes tuition-free education (she’s $30K in debt), and clamping down on fossil fuel production (“fracking” is the ultimate f-word around this crowd).

David Collins is running for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Texas Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, and he’s not afraid to crib ideas from the other team to do so. As part of his pitch for the solar energy bandwagon, Collins said he’d like to see photovoltaic collectors on the moon. “As Gingrich-y as that sounds … we can do this now!” he said.

Correction: July 26, 2012

An earlier version of the item incorrectly identified the political race Green Party candidate David Collins is involved in. Collins is running for the open Senate seat in Texas. Green Party candidate Colia Clark is vying for the Senate seat currently occupied by New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.