Watch the April 13 candidate forum LIVE from the Camp Community College Workforce Development Center in Franklin, featuring State Del. Emily Brewer, R-Isle of Wight, and retired NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler of Emporia.

The forum moderated by Times Publisher Steve Stewart will be broadcast here starting at 6:30 p.m. and will last roughly 90 minutes.

The forum will consist of opening and closing statements by each candidate and roughly an hour of Q&A with the moderator.

Senate District 17, drawn during 2021 redistricting to reflect numbers in the 2020 Census, covers all of Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Franklin and Southampton, as well as Emporia, Greensville County, Brunswick County and parts of Portsmouth and Dinwiddie County.

Political analysts have identified it as one of a handful of “purple” districts statewide that will determine which party controls the state Senate beginning in 2024.

The winner of the Brewer-Sadler primary on June 20 will advance to the November general election, likely against Del. Clinton Jenkins, D-Suffolk, who so far is unopposed for his party’s nomination.