Special congressional election Apr. 27

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced Monday afternoon that a special election will be held Apr. 27 to fill the vacancy created by Sunday night's resignation of 9th District Congressman Nathan Deal.

Qualifying dates will be set by the Secretary of State’s office, according to the governor.

Deal - a Gainesville Republican - resigned after Sunday's health care vote in the U.S. House. He had said earlier in the month he would be stepping down once that vote was held in order to devote full time to running for governor. (See separate story.)