Darden
Copeland
Darden Copeland is the 2026 Democratic challenger for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, running against Republican incumbent Matt Van Epps.
- sources
- 9
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 1
Background
Darden Copeland is the Democratic nominee challenging Republican incumbent Matt Van Epps in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election. The Federal Election Commission classifies him as a challenger and lists him as a Democrat. 19
Copeland's campaign biography identifies him as the founder and CEO of Calvert Street Group, a Nashville-based public affairs firm working in land use, energy infrastructure, and issue advocacy. Before founding the firm, he worked as a campaign manager and political strategist on congressional and presidential campaigns. He has noted that he has never previously run for office himself. 1412
Copeland attended the University of Richmond and moved to Nashville in 2008, where he has lived since. His campaign describes him as a local resident but "not a native." 141
The race pits him against incumbent Van Epps in a redrawn 7th District. Recent polling cited by the campaign described the contest as closer than initially expected. 613
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 7, Tennessee
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Founder and CEO, Calvert Street Group
- Website
- dardenforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownfilingCopeland's FEC-reported fundraising: $869K raised, $790K spent, $79K cash on hand through July 17
Campaign finance trackers citing FEC data reported Copeland had raised $869,000, spent $790,000, and held $79,000 cash on hand through July 17. These figures are not a current October update.
Tennessee's 7th Congressional District 2026: Copeland vs. Van Epps | ChamberLight · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2newsCopeland and Van Epps featured in separate NewsChannel 5 candidate interviews
NewsChannel 5 featured both nominees in separate interviews on its Inside Politics program. Copeland argued that the district's redrawn boundaries gave a centrist candidate an opening, while Van Epps emphasized his conservative voting record. These were separate interviews, not a debate.
Candidates clash over ideology in Tennessee’s 7th District race · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsCopeland tells Nashville Banner he wants to 'make politics boring again,' declines corporate PAC money
In a Banner interview, Copeland framed his campaign as a push against political extremism, pledging not to accept corporate PAC or major-party-donor funding. A campaign-released poll showed him leading Van Epps 46% to 44% after respondents heard both candidates' biographies, and 57% to 35% among those already familiar with both candidates. The Banner noted the poll lacked published methodology or margin of error.
Incumbent Van Epps battles centrist Copeland in District 7 ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 1newsCopeland wins Democratic primary nomination for Tennessee's 7th District
Darden Copeland won the Democratic primary and became the party's nominee for the general election against Republican incumbent Matt Van Epps. He had previously lost the Democratic nomination in a prior special election to Aftyn Behn, who did not run again.
Democrat Darden Copeland files ethics complaint accusing GOP ... · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Tennessee Gun Sense Voter organizationListed Darden Copeland as an 'Endorsed Candidate' for the 7th Congressional District in their 2026 Tennessee voter guide (guide updated September 27, 2026; date of endorsement not specified). gunsensevoter.org
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $869K
- Spent
- $790K
- Cash on hand
- $79K
As of Jul 17, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6TN07286(opens in a new tab)
Sources 9
- [1] Democrat Darden Copeland files ethics complaint accusing GOP ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [2] Candidates clash over ideology in Tennessee’s 7th District race(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [3] Incumbent Van Epps battles centrist Copeland in District 7 ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [4] Tennessee's 7th Congressional District 2026: Copeland vs. Van Epps | ChamberLight(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [5] Darden Copeland — 2026 Tennessee's 7th Congressional District ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 30, 2026
- [6] Tennessee - Gun Sense Voter(opens in a new tab) Aug 7, 2026
- [7] Darden Copeland: Democratic Candidate for Congress, ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 16, 2026
- [8] Democrats See Williamson County as Important in ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2025
- [9] General 1 — Darden Copeland For Congress(opens in a new tab) Jul 20, 2025