Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order on Friday calling for a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla. The primary election will be held April 22, and the general election will take place on June 24. Radel resigned from Congress on Monday after several months of scrutiny after he was arrested in October for misdemeanor possession of cocaine in Washington, D.C. Initially, Radel said he would only take a leave of absence from the House.

The New Jersey governor probably can say goodbye to his presidential aspirations. This just out: Chris Christie knew about lane closures on the George Washington Bridge at the time they were occurring -- and a former Port Authority official who oversaw the disastrous lanes shutdown claims to have evidence to prove it. That news came in not one but two reports Friday.

The Republican Party of Florida is demanding an on-air apology from a Miami news station after the station referred to the RPOF as the "Reprehensive Party of Florida." The error aired during a segment highlighting a recent RPOF TV ad attacking former Gov. Charlie Crist for "running away" from Florida when its economy tanked.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a new ad on Friday attacking former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate in the special election for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. Sink takes on Republican David Jolly and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 special election.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) announced Friday it will be hitting former Gov. Charlie Crist in a new Web ad with a significant six-figure digital ad buy. Crist is the favorite for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Sott in November, despite spending most of his political career as a Republican. The ad can be viewed here.

Florida TaxWatch looked at job growth in the Sunshine State in 2013 with around 193,000 jobs created, a 42 percent increase over 2012. The organization released a study finding 2013 was the best year for job growth in Florida since 2005. "With increased investment in important industries, such as manufacturing, logistics and tourism, Florida's economy is growing jobs at the highest rate in the last eight years," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, on Friday.

This week, U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, endorsed Navy veteran Jorge Bonilla in the Republican primary to challenge U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., in November. Sessions chaired the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) and is married to Karen Diebel, the Central Florida Republican who made a try for Congress in the 2010 and 2012 election cycles. We all want to win this upcoming November, and Jorge Bonilla is the consensus candidate that will be able to do just that, win, Sessions said.

The Miami New Times is among six finalists for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, according to an announcement Thursday by the prize's sponsor, the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvards Kennedy School of Government.

Conservative group American Action Network announced on Thursday it will spend $500,000, including more than $350,000 in television ads, direct mail and online ads, to torpedo former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate running in the special election for the congressional seat left open by the death of longtime U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. Sink meets Jolly and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 special election.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura of Minnesota will appear on Thursday nights episode of Ora.tvs Politicking with Larry King where he takes on two of the leading possible presidential candidates in 2016: former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ventura referenced former first lady Barbara Bushs comment that she hopes her son does not run for the presidency in 2016.

Attorney David Jolly, the Republican candidate running for the open congressional seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., is hitting the airwaves with a new commercial. Jolly, who worked for Young, is taking on former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate, and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 special election. Jolly showcased a new television commercial on Thursday in which he goes on the attack against Sink, hitting her for backing President Barack Obamas health care law and contrasting their fiscal records.

Former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., endorsed Carol Platt in the Republican primary to challenge U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla. "I have known Carol Platt and her family for 20 years and I am pleased to endorse her candidacy for Congress, Weldon said. Her track record of accomplishment and her dedication to conservative principles are what we need in Washington, D.C.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondinamed Master Deputy Tim Liberatore of the Marion County sheriffs office the attorney general's 2013 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year on Thursday.

On Thursday, former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., showcased a video response he made to President Barack Obamas State of the Union address. Tuesday evening during the State of the Union address, President Obama offered more empty campaign rhetoric, West emailed supporters on Thursday. Instead of offering solutions to move America forward, he offered more of the same failed policies his administration has been pushing for more than four years.

Justice Jorge Labarga was officially named the incoming chief justice for the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday. Labarga was unanimously elected by his peers to serve in that post for two years starting on July 1. I am so honored to serve in such an important position, Labarga, the first Cuban-American to become Florida chief justice, said on Wednesday. I am deeply grateful for the trust of my colleagues and pledge to make sure our constitutional principles are enforced.