With eight years experience in the house and several years after that working as a lobbyist, many consider Sharon Merchant the "insider candidate" in the Senate District 27 Republican Primary. But Lizbeth Benacquisto is benefiting from ties to the inside too.

Lizbeth Benacquisto and Sharon Merchant are the Republican front-runners for the Senate District 27 primary election, but they have very different views on what it means to be Republican.

With Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres running in the Democratic attorney general primary, this seat representing parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Palm Beach County is up for grabs. Both the Democratic and Republican primaries have drawn serious contenders, making the battle for this seat one to watch, in the primaries as well as the general election in November.