Former state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle took a step closer to returning to Tallahassee on Tuesday as he won the Republican primary in a special election for an open Florida House seat. With early votes counted and 24 of 32 precincts in, Eisanugle beat out educator Vicki Bell in the Republican primary with 84 percent. Bell took 16 percent.

Rep. Gayle Harrells House Memorial 607 urging the United States Congress to enact, before adjournment, the Water Resources Development Act authorizing the next phase of Everglades restoration as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, will be heard at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the House Local and Federal Affairs Committee.

Gov. Rick Scott debuted his first television ad of his 2014 re-election campaign on Tuesday, and it didn't take long for the Florida Democratic Party to pounce. In the ad, Scott talks about his own family experiences as reasons why he remains focused on job creation and Florida's economy. The Florida Democratic Party, however, wasn't so moved by the video.

Gov. Rick Scott released the first television ad of the 2014 gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday. The ad features Scott talking about his experiences growing up in poverty and how it drives him to focus on Floridas economy and creating jobs.

State Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, and Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Fort Myers, announced on Tuesday that they are backing Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, in the special election for the congressional seat vacated when Trey Radel, R-Fla., resigned after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine.

Just last week it appeared Charlie Crist had been gaining traction in fundraising numbers, but Gov. Rick Scott's campaign account shows Crist may not have such a huge advantage after all. Numbers posted Monday showed Scott raised $585,000 inthe month of February. Scott's campaign account is separate from "Let's Get to Work," Scott's political committee. In total, Scott's accounts raised more than $757,000 last month.

While most eyes have been on Pinellas County where there is a special congressional election on Tuesday, there is also a Republican primary in Orange County for an open House seat. Former Rep. Eric Eisnaugle is a heavy favorite over educator Vicki Bell in the Republican primary.

Trying to catch former Gov. Charlie Crist in the Democratic primary to see who challenges Gov. Rick Scott in November, former state Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich hit her chief rivals on school choice on Monday. My position on vouchers has always been crystal clear, said Rich. I opposed them when Republican Gov. Jeb Bush introduced them. I opposed them when Republican Gov. Charlie Crist expanded them. I oppose expanding them now. Vouchers allow public money to go to private schools and thats just not right period.

The business community continues to rally behind Gov. Rick Scott as the Florida Retail Federation (FRF) endorsed the Republican for a second term on Tuesday. Gov. Rick Scott has a tremendous record of helping Floridians create jobs and succeed in the workplace. We enthusiastically endorse him for re-election, said Rick McAllister, the president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. In making this endorsement, FRF is expressing its confidence that under Gov. Scotts leadership during his second term, Florida will continue to be the premier state to do business.

Florida TaxWatch released a study on Tuesday which shows allowing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) a greater role in Floridas health care would save the Sunshine State almost $340 million as well as improve access for patients.

Republican David Jolly took to the national airwaves on Monday afternoon as he made his final pitch in the special election for the congressional seat left open after the death of U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. Jolly, who takes on Democrat former state CFO Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby in Tuesdays election, appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto on Fox News and sounded optimistic about his chances despite this being a true purple district." Jolly added he believed the race had national ramifications.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., announced on Monday they were backing Florida Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress. Washington is broken and this president has no interest in fixing it, Diaz-Balart said. Lizbeths fighting spirit and proven ability to get things done are just what we need to get things moving for hard-working Florida families.

Appearing on Fox Business Network (FBN) on Monday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., weighed in on tax reform, went after the Democrats and said Russia should be expelled from the G8. FBNs Rich Edson asked Rubio his thoughts on the tax reform plan from U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich. While Rubio said he was leaning against backing Camps plan, he did say he was crafting his own tax reform plan with U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

George Zimmerman may have been acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin over the summer, but protests against Florida's Stand Your Ground law have persisted into the 2014 legislative session. On Monday, several hundred protesters, led by Rev. Al Sharpton, headed to the Florida Capitol to speak out against the self-defense law, which gathered considerable media attention and controversy following Zimmerman's acquittal. The law was not used in Zimmerman's defense.

At a media event in Orlando on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott showcased his proposal for $80 million in the state budget to be used for cancer research, including sending $60 million to Florida Cancer Centers as they seek National Cancer Institute (NCI) status