With the Democratic presidential candidates holding their first debate on Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) showcased the last of its six scheduled debates on Thursday night. 

On Friday, state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), announced two more presidential candidates--U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and businesswoman Carly Fiorina--will attend the RPOF’s Sunshine Summit in Orlando next month. 

Three Republican state representatives--Dennis Baxley of Ocala, Elizabeth Porter of Lake City and Jay Trumbull of Panama City--backed Dr. Neal Dunn for Congress on Thursday. 

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., ended his bid to replace outgoing U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Thursday as the GOP caucus postponed voting for a new speaker. 

The Florida Senate Rules Committee unanimously backed a proposal to remove the Confederate flag from the Senate’s logo. 

Americans for Prosperity’s (AFP) Florida chapter launched a “Scary Spending" Halloween themed website this week as it continues to push against taxpayer funded incentives towards entertainment projects. 

U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla. is an underdog to defeat U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as Republicans caucus to find a replacement for outgoing U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, but the Florida congressman got a boost on Wednesday with a key endorsement.

From his perch as chairman of the U.S. Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., offered prayers to the families impacted by the El Faro tragedy. 

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., backed the Army giving an additional 60 days as a Green Beret tries reinstated in the Army after he was forced out of service when he reported an Afghan ally sexually abusing a child but said the solider deserves a full reinstatement. 

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, is backing U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., to be speaker of the House in Thursday’s vote.