Five of the seven announced Republican candidates who are vying to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue attended the Statesboro Republican Primary Gubernatorial debate held at Statesboro High School on May 7. Former U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal, former Georgia Senate president Eric Johnson, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Ray McBerry and State Senator Jeff Chapman from Brunswick all participated in the event, while former secretary of state Karen Handel declined to appear on the stage with McBerry.