Who's running in Tennessee's 7th congressional district
4 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
4 candidates · ballot order · Matt Van Epps currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Supporting President Trump's America First agenda.
Keeping the border secure and stopping migrant crime.
Cutting taxes and regulations and promoting American-made goods and energy production.
School choice.
Defending the Second Amendment.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Tennessee's 7th District since December 4, 2025, after winning the December 2 special election with 53.9% against Aftyn Behn.
Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, 2024–2025.
West Point graduate (2005); ten years on active duty as an Army aviation officer; lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard; awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal with 'V' device.
Won the August 6, 2026 Republican primary unopposed.
Endorsed for re-election by President Trump.
Raised $1.98 million through March 31, 2026, with $135,155 on hand.
Arguments in favor
A combat-decorated Army helicopter pilot who 'knows the wisdom and courage required to defend our country', working to keep the border secure, cut taxes and regulations and defend the Second Amendment — 'he will never let you down'.
— President Donald Trump, re-election endorsement published by the Van Epps campaign
Arguments against
'MAGA Matt' has only done the bidding of Republican leadership since taking office: 'He will never be his own man… He's going to do what's best for Donald Trump and Speaker Johnson, and whatever the Republicans tell them to do.'
— Darden Copeland, Democratic opponent, to the Nashville Banner
Members of Congress like him have stopped holding face-to-face constituent meetings, sending taxpayer-funded mail instead, and there is currently no congressional office in Davidson County.
Restoring the top income tax rate for the highest earners while protecting families under $400,000.
Closing the carried interest loophole and strengthening the corporate minimum tax.
Congressional control of spending under the separation of powers.
District offices in North Nashville, Hendersonville, Clarksville and Dickson.
Redrawing Memphis and Nashville districts more cohesively after the 2030 census.
Affordability, health care, term limits and a ban on congressional insider trading.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Founder and CEO of the Calvert Street Group, a Nashville public affairs firm.
Campaign manager and strategist for Al Gore, John Kerry, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner and Patrick Kennedy before 2005.
Elder at Woodmont Christian Church; board member of Preserve Nashville.
Lost the 2025 special election Democratic primary to Aftyn Behn.
Won the August 6, 2026 Democratic primary with 39.9%.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
He is running to beat Van Epps, not other Democrats: with 30 years of experience winning tough issues by finding common ground between parties, he says he can appeal to the 'much more sensible' Republicans and independents in the redrawn district and out-raise his rivals to build a war chest.
— Darden Copeland, to the Nashville Banner
Arguments against
None of the Democrats who ran in the 2025 special election had filed to run again before redistricting reopened the race, which she took as a lack of fight — 'You had no fight in you from January to March?'
— Saletta Holloway, Democratic primary opponent, to the Nashville Banner (directed at Copeland and Dixie)
The redrawn district is rated Solid Republican with an R+11 lean.
— Cook Political Report, via Tennessee Lookout
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Copeland by Van Epps's campaign or the NRCC could be found.
His fundraising totals for 2026 were not found.
Whether his public affairs clients will become a campaign issue had not been reported.
Qualified as an independent candidate for this seat in the November 3, 2026 general election.
No prior elected office could be identified.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No news coverage, campaign website, candidate questionnaire or campaign finance filing could be found, so this candidate's background and positions could not be established.
No published argument for or against this candidacy by any named party, group or outlet could be found.
Qualified as an independent candidate for this seat in the November 3, 2026 general election.
No prior elected office could be identified.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No news coverage, campaign website, candidate questionnaire or campaign finance filing could be found, so this candidate's background and positions could not be established.
No published argument for or against this candidacy by any named party, group or outlet could be found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Tennessee held its primaries on August 6, 2026, under a new congressional map signed May 7, 2026. The redrawn 7th District swings around Clarksville on its western edge, dips into parts of northwest Nashville and Dickson, adds Sumner County suburbs such as Hendersonville, and runs east to Macon County. It shrank from 13 counties to eight, and about 40% of its voters are new to it. Four candidates are on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Matt Van Epps, who won a December 2025 special election and was unopposed in the primary; Democrat Darden Copeland, who won with 39.9% over state Rep. Vincent Dixie, former Metro Councilmember Saletta Holloway and teacher Joshua Sales; and independents Andrew J. Koontz and Lowell Reynolds. The roster is confirmed by NewsChannel 5, Wikipedia and Ballotpedia. Candidate order here is Republican, Democrat, then independents alphabetically; that is an assumption, not the verified ballot order. The Cook Political Report rates the redrawn district Solid Republican with an R+11 lean. Van Epps had raised $1.98 million with $135,155 on hand as of March 31, 2026.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Tennessee ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Tennessee Secretary of State.