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Nashville businessman Darden Copeland enters Democratic primary in Congressional District 7

Staff photo by Abby White / “I Voted” stickers for Chattanooga residents after casting their vote. Chattanooga held its Mayoral and City Council election on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, where Chattanooga residents could go to their district’s voting site, such as Avondale Community Center and Glenwood Community Center, to cast their vote. Staff photo by Abby White / “I Voted” stickers for Chattanooga residents after casting their vote. Chattanooga held its Mayoral and City Council election on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, where Chattanooga residents could go to their district’s voting site, such as Avondale Community Center and Glenwood Community Center, to cast their vote.

By J. Holly McCall / Tennessee Lookout August 9, 2025 2 min read

Nashville businessman Darden Copeland announced his bid for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Congressional District 7 primary.

“Politicians are more interested in fighting each other than fighting for their constituents. This district has been taken for granted by politicians more interested in scoring points than solving problems,” Darden said. “Tennessee’s working families are being squeezed by rising costs and health care that is out of reach. I’m running to change that.”

Copeland founded Calvert Street Group, a Nashville public affairs firm. The group primarily operates referendums and land use campaigns. A native of Virginia, he has worked on the campaigns of Democrats including former U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, former Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and former Vice President Al Gore.

Copeland has been expected to announce his candidacy for the past few weeks, and he filed his campaign committee statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission on July 24.

He joins state Reps. Aftyn Behn, Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who recently retired.