× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise will host a televised gubernatorial debate in Southwest Virginia in October.

The Southwest Virginia Technology Council is sponsoring the event between Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam. No date has been set.

So far, it will be the third and last debate between the two gubernatorial hopefuls.

“To most contemporary institutional knowledge, this is the first statewide televised gubernatorial debate in the Central Appalachian coalfields in Virginia's history,” said Wise County Circuit Court Clerk Jack Kennedy, a Democrat who represents the Southwest Virginia Technology Council. “Recollection does not exist of any general election gubernatorial debate west of Blacksburg.”

In 2013, the last gubernatorial debate was held on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. During that debate, Republican Ken Cuccinelli faced the eventual victor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

The technology council’s board of directors authorized the invitation to the two parties’ candidates prior to the primaries in the spring. Kennedy and Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chuck Slemp, a Republican, issued the invitations.

The general election is Nov. 7.