Florida governor Rick Scott announces run for Senate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Calling Washington "horribly dysfunctional," Florida Gov. Rick Scott will challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in an election that could be one of the most expensive and highly-watched races in the nation.

The Republican governor formally announced his campaign to unseat Florida's only statewide-elected Democrat on Monday in Orlando.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says he is prepared to run against Florida Gov. Rick Scott in a highly anticipated clash between the two politicians.

Nelson on Monday issued a brief statement where he said that while Scott "will say or do anything to get elected" that if he does the "right thing" then the "politics will take care of itself."

Scott, a Republican, formally kicked off his campaign for U.S. Senate at the headquarters of an Orlando-based construction company. During his speech Scott called for term limits in Congress and railed against "career politicians" that he said have made Washington a "disaster."

Scott has been Florida's governor since 2010 and was urged by President Donald Trump to run for U.S. Senate.

Nelson is Florida's only statewide elected Democrat.