Republicans are celebrating at the national level as David Jolly beat out Democrat former state CFO Alex Sink in a special election in Pinellas County.

With overseas and provisional ballots still out, Republican candidate David Jolly holds a solid lead over Democratic rival former state CFO Alex Sink in a special election on Tuesday to win the seat held for decades by his former boss, the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla.

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.

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.

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.