Carolyn Timmann, who resigned her postion as director of open government in the executive office of Gov. Rick Scott effective Jan. 1, 2012, defeated two opponents to win election as Martin County clerk of the circuit court.

State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, is closer to having a new job: Martin County sheriff. Snyder won a contentious contest on Tuesday against MCSO Major John "Ski" Pietruszewski, and David Dees, a former director of law enforcement for Florida Department of Transportation.

Former Madison County Supervisor of Elections Jada Woods Williams lost her battle Tuesday to defy an executive order from Gov. Rick Scott that had removed her from office. By just 34 votes, Democrats in Madison County on Tuesday opted for Amy Kendrick as their candidate to challenge incumbent Thomas Tommy Hardee in November.

In what might well be Florida's greatest congressional upset in years, tea party-backed Ted Yoho has narrowly beat out 24-year conservative incumbent Cliff Stearns in Tuesday's tight and very bitter four-way primary election. Catch the full story at Sunshine State News.

To no one's surprise, incumbent Bill Nelson has scored an overwhelming victory against token Democratic primary opponent Glenn Burkett in Florida's U.S. Senate race. Early returns show Nelson pulling in about 79 percent of the vote. Sen. Nelson will now face off against Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Myers, in the Nov. 6 general election. Nelson, a two-term senator, succeeded Mack's father, Sen. Connie Mack III, in 2000.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Punta Gorda, has, as expected, won his re-election to the new District 17 seat that was crafted mostly from the western end of his current district that is dominated by Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.

Trey Radel, a former radio talk-show host, is ahead in the contest to replace U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples, in Congress. Radel was just above 30 percent, with no other candidate in the early totals topping 20 percent. Radel was contesting for the seat against state Reps. Gary Aubuchon, Paige Kreegel, Joe Davidow, Byron Donalds and Chauncey Goss, who was endorsed by former Gov. Jeb Bush. Mack was an easy winner in his GOP primary to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, in the fall.

Retread is the word in House contests. Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is showing no signs of difficulty in dispatching two GOP primary opponents. In South Florida, former legislator Alex Diaz de la Portilla was winning his effort to return to Tallahassee. Former Rep. Carl Domino of Jupiter was doing well in Palm Beach County, but Martin County voters were heavily sided with MaryLynn Magar in a five-way primary contest to replace Rep. William Snyder. Snyder remained in a close race for Martin County sheriff.

Former Rep. Aaron Bean from Fernandina Beach, Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland and Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, who could all play a big role in Sen. Joe Negrons effort to become Senate president in 2016, are strong early showings as the first vote totals were released. The state Division of Elections posted its first results just after 8 p.m., after polls closed on the Panhandle.

Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus announced Tuesday morning that freshman Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, 41-year-old son of Cuban immigrants, one of the party's brightest stars, has been chosen to introduce presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. "This will firmly establish Marco as the man to watch in the GOP," said political consultant Joel Endelman. "He gets a chance to shine in his own state, a state Romney has to have to win the White House. The boy is on his way."

Sporting a ball cap adorned with the phrase Beat Perry, Florida Gov. Rick Scott was able to finally claim victory over Texas Gov. Rick Perry. While Scott has made surpassing Texas in terms of job creation a personal goal, Perry may have landed the largest fish, a red snapper. But Scott had the bigger haul -- finishing up 5-2 after they embarked on a midday fishing expedition with service members from Harbor Walk at Emerald Grande, Destin.

Gov. Rick Scott will cast his ballot -- a provisional if once again he is deemed to be dead -- Tuesday morning for the primary at the St. Ann Jubilee Center in Naples.

Bob Schieffer, host of CBSs Face the Nation, will moderate the final presidential debate, planned for Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton. The first debate will be held Oct. 3 at the University of Denver. The second, a town hall format, will be held Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hampstead, N.Y.

It's been a question mark for months now: Will Sarah Palin stir 'em up at the Republican National Convention just two weeks away? Everything I said at the 2008 convention about then-candidate Obama still stands today, she told Fox News Greta Van Susteren. This year is a good opportunity for other voices to speak at the convention and Im excited to hear them.

My latest at Sunshine State News: my take on why constitutional libertarians should bite the bullet and support the GOP presidential ticket, even as they (i.e., libertarians) continue to serve as the party's "loyal opposition."