Virginia Senate candidates to talk tech

The two men competing to represent Virginia in the Senate next year will share a stage in coming weeks to talk about technology issues.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie will both take part in a town hall forum at Microsoft’s offices in Reston, Va., on Sept. 8.

{mosads}The two will appear separately to handle questions from technology business leaders and the audience. The forum is being co-hosted by the Northern Virginia Technology Council, a trade group for the tech sector in the suburban northern part of the state.

In their first debate this summer, the two candidates sparred over climate change, birth control and President Obama, whom Gillespie tried to link to Warner’s record in the Senate. 

Warner — who helped start a successful cellphone company before entering Congress — is considered the favorite in the contest, though Gillespie has strong support in his party and could mount a formidable challenge.