National conservative groups are lining up behind U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., who launched a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2016 to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for the Republican presidential nomination. The Senate Conservatives Fund (SCF) endorsed DeSantis on Wednesday morning after the Florida congressman jumped in the race.

U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., had kind words for U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., on Wednesday as he entered the race to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Jolly kept the door open to running for the Senate himself, promising a decision in the coming months and saying the Republican Senate primary will be very competitive next year.

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., announced on Wednesday that he was running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for the presidency.

With two weeks to go, former Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairman Lenny Curry has the lead over Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, according to a new poll. St. Pete Polls took a survey for St. PetersBlog which shows Curry ahead 49 percent to 45 percent. The poll of 1,026 likely Jacksonville voters was taken on May 5 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

Gov. Rick Scott will be up in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to meet with U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell on Low Income Pool (LIP) funding. The Florida House and Senate are currently deadlocked over the budget, still divided on Medicaid expansions and questions about LIP.

Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), named Brad Herold as executive director of the RPOF on Tuesday. Wadi Gaitan will take over as communications director while Mallory Deason is on board as press secretary. The positions had been filled on an interim basis since Ingoglia took over the RPOF earlier this year.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., showcased the kind words sent her way from former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the Republican presidential candidate who lost to President Bill Clinton in the 1996 election. Dole served in the Senate with Grahams father former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham, D-Fla., for almost a decade.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., announced on Thursday that he will remain in the U.S. House and not run for the U.S Senate. Buchanans name had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for the presidency in 2016 and is not seeking a second term.

On Wednesday night, the U.S. House backed U.S. Rep David Jollys, R-Fla., amendment ensuring federal funds are not used to close the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act Jolly took to the floor to explain why the base should remain open.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the House leadership as senior deputy whip, with the Spirit of Enterprise award on Wednesday. The federal government does not create jobs, small businesses in our local communities do, said Ross. Today, I am honored to receive the Spirit of Enterprise Award, and proud to support pro-growth policies that strengthen our economy and create jobs across Central Florida and the Tampa Bay region.

The U.S. Humane Society honored U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., with its Legislative Leader award on Tuesday night. Last week, Buchanan introduced a bill looking to ban slaughtering horses for human consumption and he has co-sponsored bills cracking down on animal fighting, restricting puppy mills being able to sell dogs on the Internet and other legislation regarding animals.

Americans for Prosperitys (AFP) Florida chapter cheered the Florida House for adjourning ahead of schedule on Tuesday as it continues to oppose Medicaid expansion leading to a stalemate with the Senate over the budget. "The House stood strong and negotiated in good faith," stated Chris Hudson, AFPs director in Florida. "Meanwhile, the Senate continues to stall a tax cut package that would help Floridians. The Senate should follow the House's leadership, pass the tax cut package, and go home!"

In an unexpected move on Tuesday. Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, adjourned his chamber ahead of the end of session on Friday. With differences over Medicaid expansion, the House and the Senate have yet to reach an agreement on a budget. On Tuesday, Crisafulli said a special session would be needed before the end of June

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., the chairman of the U.S. House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, urged business owners impacted by the fire at the Pecan Park Flea and Farmers Market in Jacksonville to work with the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) on recovery assistance.

Krogers, the nations largest supermarket, has teamed up with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to promote Fresh From Florida groceries at more than 300 stores in seven states. We are excited to launch this new partnership with Kroger to spread the word about Florida sweet corn, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said on Tuesday. We continue to see growth in our Fresh From Florida campaign, proving that consumers in this state and other states across the country know there is nothing better than what we grow right here in Florida.