The money is flowing into SD 34, a South Florida state Senate race in which two of the chamber's heavyweights, incumbents Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Maria Sachs, D-Delray, are engaged in what likely will be a tooth-and-nail November struggle to return to Tallahassee.

Bogdanoff has filled her coffers for what should be a tough contest. In the second quarter of 2012, she pulled in more than $106,000 in cash, almost $49,000 through in-kind donations and spent more than $23,000.

As the campaign enters the final month before the Republican primary on Aug. 14, in SD 15 Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, is leading her two GOP opponents in the money chase as they battle it out for the Senate seat centered around Polk County.

First elected to the Florida House in 2008, Stargel --whose husband served two terms in the Florida House before heading to the bench to serve as a judge -- raised more than $60,000 in the second quarter of 2012.

Four incumbents in the Florida Senate representing the northern part of the state -- including the next Senate president -- are cruising to being re-elected in November, all with impressive war chests and little in the way of opposition.

In SD 1, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is slated to become president of the Florida Senate after November, provided he wins another term and the Republicans keep control. The GOP is in solid shape to keep the Senate and Gaetz appears to be on track for staying in Tallahassee.

With a month to go until the primary, in SD 24 -- one of the most closely watched legislative primaries in Florida -- former Florida Senate President Tom Lee has the financial edge over Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa.

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, announced in late May that she would not seek another term in the Senate and would instead offer a primary challenge to Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Turner. With Storms sudden announcement, Lee and Burgin scrambled into the race for the Senate seat which represents the eastern parts of Hillsborough County.

Three state Supreme Court justices whom critics have deemed judicial activists have amassed nearly $1 million to assure their retention in November.

With unprecedented contributions rolling in for a judicial contest of any kind in Florida, the three justices up for retention collectively picked up $455,310 -- the bulk from attorneys and law firms -- during the second quarter of the year. The combined number for Supreme Court justices R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince almost equaled their first-quarter totals.

With a month to go until the primary, House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-New Port Richey, has a healthy financial advantage over two Republican primary opponents in the Senate District 17 battle to replace Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, in representing parts ofPasco and Hillsborough counties.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad joined Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday in reaffirming Scott's stance that Florida wont assist in the federal governments expansion of Medicaid through Obamacare.

The governors from key presidential swing states, appearing on Fox News Sunday with Brit Hume, said that because of the anticipated fiscal impacts -- in addition to the belief that the law is illegal -- they remain ready to reject Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act allowed through the flexible opt-out provision set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

How desperate are the Democrats in Florida?

Fireworks hit the capital city the week after the Fourth of July, with sparks flying over the resignation of a besieged university president, allegations of inappropriate behavior in the lieutenant governor's office and a high-profile court case upholding a tough Florida drug law.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle filed a flurry of financial disclosures, giving the public a good first look at campaign contributions following the redrawing of political boundaries.

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll is telling supporters she is preparing to fight allegations from a fired underling facing felony charges.

Carroll has started to respond to emails this week from individuals offering her encouragement after AP reported Tuesday that court documents filed by attorneys for former aide Carletha Cole included a comment that she had caught her boss in a compromising position with another female staffer.