Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) declared Monday that the special election to replace resigned Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) will take place on April 27.

Georgia’s secretary of state set the qualifying period for the all-party special election for March 29-31. If needed, a runoff election will be held on May 25.

Deal, who is running for governor in Georgia, originally intended to resign earlier this month to concentrate on that campaign. He stayed on in order to vote on the health care reform bill and officially stepped down late Sunday night.

There’s a crowded field of Republicans vying in the special election and for the nomination to seek a full term in the 9th district, which heavily favors the GOP. The GOP candidates include state Sen. Lee Hawkins, cardiologist Chris Cates, state Rep. Tom Graves and former state Sen. Bill Stephens.