Two Democrats are battling in the August primary for an open seat in the Florida House of Representatives representing parts of Alachua and Marion counties and the winner should be headed to Tallahassee since whoever emerges will face a write-in candidate.

Much of the new district is currently represented by Rep. Chuck Chestnut, D-Gainesville, who is stepping down after three terms in the Florida House to run for Alachua County Commission.

As he seeks a second term in the Florida House, Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Milton, has to survive a serious Republican primary challenge in August from Milton businessman Jayer Williamson, the scion of a family with deep roots in Santa Rosa County politics.

As he seeks to win a second term in the Florida House, Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, could be looking at a Democratic opponent with a healthy war chest.

A contractor from Gainesville, Perry won his current House seat, which represents parts of Alachua, Levy and Marion counties, in 2010. In his time in Tallahassee, Perry has quickly moved up the political ladder, becoming part of the Republican leadership as a deputy whip.

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson won the congressional seat representing parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties vacated by Kendrick Meek in 2010, beating out eight other candidates in the Democratic primary -- but Dr. Rudy Moise, who placed second in that primary, has more in the bank as he heads toward a rematch in August.

Looking to extend his lengthy career on the political stage, U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., is a heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination and the general election, despite facing a transformed district.

The son-in-law of the late Gov. Claude Kirk, Crenshaw is a veteran of Florida politics who was first elected to the Florida House in 1972 and ran unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for secretary of state back in 1978.

Dane Eagle, a former staffer in the Crist administration who rose to deputy chief of staff to the governor, is looking to return to Tallahassee -- with the support of Republican leaders and business groups that his old boss bucked to run instead as an NPA U.S. Senate candidate.

After an open seat in Florida Senate, former state Rep. Bill Galvano looks to be smooth-sailing his way to a Tallahassee return in November.

Galvano has an open shot at the Republican nomination for SD 26, to represent parts of Charlotte, Highlands and Hillsbrough counties and all of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee and Manatee counties. The Brandenton Republican is well-known in Tallahassee for his eight years in the Florida House. First elected in 2002, he represented parts of Hillsborough and Manatee counties until he faced term limits in 2010.

The national media might be abuzz about the names on Mitt Romneys vice presidential shortlist, but in Florida many folks are mourning the prize they thought they had in the palm of their hands.

A shot at a place in the White House: either U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio or former Gov. Jeb Bush as Romney's running mate.

The largest swing state in the nation appears to be continuing its 167-year drought of not having a favorite son on a major partys presidential ticket.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, is in line to become Senate president after the 2014 elections and he has the edge in SD 13 over a Democratic opponent as he looks for a second term in the upper chamber.