Former Gov. Charlie Crist spoke out on the murder of freelance journalist and Florida native Steven Sotloff on Tuesday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sotloff family today," Crist tweeted. "This brutal murder of an innocent man who sought to document suffering in the world demonstrates the type of evil we confront." Sotloff, who is from the Miami area, was a student at the University of Central Florida. He was kidnapped by ISIS in 2013.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., called for American action against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) forces on Monday after video showing the murder of journalist Steven Sotloff, a Miami native, was released on Tuesday. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Steven Sotloff, Nelson said on Tuesday. Let there be no doubt, we must go after ISIS right away because the U.S. is the only one that can put together a coalition to stop this group thats intent on barbaric cruelty.

Gov. Rick Scott spoke out on the brutal murder of freelance journalist and Miami native Steven Sotloff on Tuesday after a video of his alleged murder surfaced online. Sotloff attended the University of Central Florida. He was captured in Syria by ISIS last year. On behalf of Ann and myself, and on behalf of all the people of Florida, we want to convey our sorrow and our condolences to the entire Sotloff family. We cannot begin to understand their grief," said Scott.

Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo, the Republican running against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., in what is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional races in the nation come November, came out swinging at the Democratic congressman on Tuesday over foreign policy.

At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., announced his support for Carol Platt, the Republican candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., in November. Posey pointed to Platts background in the private sector as a reason why she will do well in Congress. Carols experience in business, balancing budgets, making payroll and having to make tough decisions will serve her very well, Posey insisted. We need more representatives like Carol with real-world experience and the guts to make Congress accountable.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been helping Republicans across the country as they look to flip the U.S. Senate from Democratic control in November. On Tuesday, Rubio waded into another Senate race as he penned an op-ed which appeared in the Lafayette Advertiser hitting U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., on a vote over sanctions against Venezuela. Rubio penned the piece with U.S. Rep. Bill Caddidy, R-La., who is running against Landrieu who is considered one of the most vulnerable senators in the nation. Rubio and Cassidy wrote:

With Labor Day over and the general election season ramping up, President Barack Obama is shaping up to be an anchor pulling down Florida Democrats despite carrying the Sunshine State in the last two presidential elections. A poll from Gravis Marketing released on Friday finds Obama is upside down in Florida with a majority -- 53 percent -- of those surveyed disapproving of his performance in the White House. Only 38 percent say they approve of Obama while 9 percent are unsure.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the heavy favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination, starts off the 2016 election cycle with the lead in the key swing state of Florida over two Republicans from the Sunshine State. A poll released by Gravis Marketing on Friday shows Clinton cruising over U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in a potential 2016 match-up. Clinton takes 44 percent of voters in that scenario while Rubio lags behind with 35 percent. More than a fifth of voters -- 21 percent -- remain undecided.

A new poll shows Amendment 2, a proposal to allow more medical marijuana use in Florida, is in good shape for the November elections. The poll released Friday from Gravis Marketing finds 62 percent of those surveyed support Amendment 2 while 26 percent say they plan to vote against it and 10 percent remain undecided on how they feel about it. For Amendment 2 to pass in the general election, it needs 60 percent or more support from Florida voters.

The Florida gubernatorial contest is a jump ball according to a poll released by Gravis Marketing on Friday. The poll finds both Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger former Gov. Charlie Crist running even, taking 37 percent apiece. However, more than a quarter of those surveyed -- 26 percent -- remain undecided. Most polls have shown the race tightening up as the double-digit lead Crist had last year has vanished.

Banker Jay Fant was declared the winner of the Republican primary to replace Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, in the Florida House on Friday. After the Duval County Elections Supervisor held a machine recount and examined ballots, Fant beat attorney and Navy veteran Paul Renner by 2 votes: 5,962 to 5,960.

With Labor Day being celebrated on Monday, Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch weighed in on Friday, noting an increase of private-sector jobs in the Sunshine State over the last year. "Monday, Sept. 1st, Americans will celebrate Labor Day, a time to thank our nation's workers for their role in building economic growth and prosperity, Calabro said. This year, more working Floridians have reason to relax and celebrate the long weekend. From July 2013 to July 2014, Florida saw an increase of 208,500 private, nonfarm jobs.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), sent out a fundraising email on Carlos Curbelos behalf, attempting to link Joe Garcia with U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Walden warned Republicans that Democrats planned to support Garcia with their checkbooks and called for Republicans to open their wallets for Curbelo.

The Lee County School Board, which voted to opt out of statewide standardized testing this week, could be pumping the brakes on its decision to leave testing behind. The board will be meeting next Tuesday to discuss the vote and consider rescinding its decision. The News Press reported board member Mary Fischer, who served as the tiebreaker for the 3-2 vote, requested the meeting.

Former Florida Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich will be attending unity rallies across Florida on Thursday with former Gov. Charlie Crist who beat her in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. But Rich could not resist a final shot at Crist who refused to debate her during the primary campaign . Last night I spoke with Charlie Crist to congratulate him, Rich posted on Facebook on Wednesday. It was a brief call, I didn't feel like debating him. Rich offered more enthusiasm later on Wednesday in another Facebook post.