Darden Hunter Copeland is the Democratic nominee for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces incumbent Republican Rep. Matt Van Epps, along with independents Andrew J. Koontz and Lowell Andre Reynolds, according to BallotReady election data.

Copeland, 48, won the Democratic primary on Aug. 6, defeating state Rep. Vincent Dixie and other candidates, the Nashville Banner reported. He previously ran in the 2025 special Democratic primary for the same seat, losing to state Rep. Aftyn Behn, who then lost the special general election to Van Epps.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Age: 48, according to his campaign
  • Residence: Nashville. Copeland said he moved to Nashville in 2008. He lives with his wife Natalie, two children and rescue dog Kathy, according to his campaign website.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, University of Richmond, 2000, according to BallotReady
  • Career: Managing director of Calvert Street Group, a Nashville-based public affairs firm he founded. Copeland said the firm has executed campaigns in 46 states and multiple Canadian provinces. He said he has worked on political campaigns and issues for over 30 years, beginning in 1997 with politicians including Al Gore, Dick Gephardt and Tim Kaine, according to a Nashville Banner questionnaire.
  • Family background: Copeland said his father started an industrial uniform company, his mother worked overnight factory shifts for health benefits, his sister joined the Air Force to attend college and his brother joined the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Experience and public service

Copeland said he has led preservation campaigns for the historic Tennessee State Prison, RCA Studio A, the Exit/In and other landmarks, according to his campaign biography. He said he serves as an elder and youth group leader at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville. He said he has served on the boards of Preserve Nashville and the Nashville Wine Auction.

Before founding Calvert Street Group, Copeland worked as a project manager at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner from 2000 to 2001 and held positions at an international public relations firm from 2005 to 2009, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Copeland's responses to a Nashville Banner candidate questionnaire. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Federal tax policy: Copeland said he supports restoring the top marginal income tax rate for the highest earners, closing the carried interest loophole and strengthening the corporate minimum tax. He said families making under $400,000 should not see their taxes increase. He said he opposes extending the 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy.

Healthcare: Copeland said he supports protecting and expanding Medicaid in Tennessee, preserving Medicare, expanding prescription drug price negotiation and keeping the Affordable Care Act's enhanced subsidies in place.

Immigration: Copeland said he supports secure borders but opposes mass deportations. He said he backs the Border Act of 2024 framework, which would have funded 1,500 new Border Patrol agents and 4,000 new asylum officers.

Renewable energy: Copeland said he wants to work across party lines on renewable energy in Tennessee, saying the state lags behind its neighbors in renewable energy development.

Voting access: Copeland said he supports ending gerrymandering at the federal level and extending Tennessee's early-voting period to at least 45 days. He said Tennessee ranks 51st in voter participation.

Candidate issue responses were drawn from a Nashville Banner candidate questionnaire. The Hendersonville Register did not interview the candidate. This profile is part of the Register's 2026 election coverage. Content is AI-curated and human-edited.