--- title: "Copeland vs. Epps: 2026 Tennessee’s 7th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-tn-07" updated: "2026-08-07" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Tennessee’s 7th District race: Darden Copeland (D) vs. Matt Van Epps (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 7, 2026 The 2026 general election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District features incumbent Republican Representative Matt Van Epps against Democratic nominee Darden Copeland, following redistricting in May 2026 and a reopened filing deadline. Van Epps won the seat in a December 2025 special election to succeed Mark Green and is running with an endorsement from Donald Trump. The race hinges on conservative voters' alignment with the Trump platform versus Copeland's appeal as a business founder and bipartisan consensus builder focusing on middle-class safety nets. ## Candidates - **Darden Copeland** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.dardenforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Darden_Copeland) - **Matt Van Epps** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Van_Epps) ## Issues ### Economy and Inflation Salience: high Copeland focuses on protecting social safety nets and addressing economic inequality, whereas Van Epps focuses on reining in federal spending, cutting regulations, and boosting domestic production. **Darden Copeland:** Supports working class and safety nets Copeland advocates for middle-class and working families, framing public policy around addressing economic disparity between the wealthy and working households. He opposes cuts to social safety-net programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, food assistance, and student loan support, citing affordability as a primary national challenge. - Focuses on standing up for middle-class and working families against corporate interests and billionaires. - Opposes reductions to safety nets including expanded Medicaid, Medicare, affordable healthcare premiums, food assistance, and student loans. - Identifies national debt and affordability as critical national challenges over the next decade. > “Standing up for the middle class and working families. It's become less about D vs. R, and more about the "haves" and "have nots".” > — Darden Copeland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Darden_Copeland) > “Too many politicians are abandoning the middle class, and serving the billionaires, bigots, and bullies. We’re adding trillions to our national debt, while cutting the safety nets so many of us depend on - expanded Medicaid, Medicare, affordable healthcare premiums, student loans, food assistance.” > — Darden Copeland, via [Campaign site](https://www.dardenforcongress.com/) **Matt Van Epps:** Opposes government spending and inflation Van Epps attributes high inflation and economic pressure on working families to far-left federal spending. He promises to partner with Donald Trump to cut taxes and regulations, bring back manufacturing, unleash domestic energy, and enact rules for emerging technology like AI and cryptocurrency. - Pledges to curb federal spending and fight inflation alongside Donald Trump. - Supports cutting regulations and red tape to stimulate business growth and bring manufacturing jobs back to America. - Advocates passing framework legislation for cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence to preserve American leadership over China and Russia. > “Tennessee families are struggling under Bidenflation and the far left's outrageous spending. Prices are higher, paychecks are stretched thin, and Washington's reckless policies are crushing working families.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) > “He will partner with President Trump to rebuild our economy — bringing manufacturing back to America, unleashing American energy, and creating good-paying jobs.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Healthcare and Rural Infrastructure Salience: medium Both candidates support expanding rural healthcare access, though Copeland focuses on defending federal Medicaid and Medicare funding while Van Epps emphasizes VA reform and rural delivery access. **Darden Copeland:** Supports expanded healthcare access Copeland highlights his public affairs career securing project approvals for rural hospitals, recovery centers, and mass transit. He opposes spending cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare subsidies. - Opposes federal cuts to expanded Medicaid, Medicare, and affordable health insurance premiums. - Highlights past achievements securing local approvals for rural hospitals, recovery centers, and memory care facilities. - Cites personal family history relying on factory health benefits as motivation for defending healthcare coverage. > “My mom worked 40-plus hours on the overnight shift at the local factory so we could have health benefits.” > — Darden Copeland, via [Campaign site](https://www.dardenforcongress.com/) > “Darden has achieved results for clients and communities across North America –winning approvals to build solar farms, affordable housing, rural hospitals, memory care and recovery facilities, grocery stores, critical infrastructure projects and dedicated funding for mass transit, among other projects.” > — Darden Copeland, via [Campaign site](https://www.dardenforcongress.com/) **Matt Van Epps:** Supports expanding rural healthcare access Van Epps supports expanding rural healthcare access across Tennessee and reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs. He aims to remove administrative hurdles to ensure access to care regardless of geographic location. - Supports expanding healthcare options and access in rural Tennessee communities. - Advocates reforming the VA healthcare system and reducing administrative red tape for military veterans. > “He will also push to expand rural healthcare, ensuring every Tennessean — no matter their ZIP code — has access to quality care.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) > “He will work with President Trump to reform the VA, eliminate red tape, and make sure every veteran has access to the healthcare, benefits, and support they've earned.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Agriculture and Rural Policy Salience: medium Van Epps focuses on agricultural deregulation and blocking foreign land purchases, while Copeland emphasizes his professional work developing rural clean energy and healthcare infrastructure. **Darden Copeland:** Supports rural infrastructure development Copeland highlights his public affairs work securing infrastructure development in local communities, including clean energy solar installations, affordable housing, grocery stores, and rural medical facilities. - Points to record securing approvals for rural community solar farms and infrastructure projects. - Facilitated development projects for rural grocery stores, hospitals, and recovery facilities. > “Darden has achieved results for clients and communities across North America –winning approvals to build solar farms, affordable housing, rural hospitals, memory care and recovery facilities, grocery stores, critical infrastructure projects and dedicated funding for mass transit, among other projects.” > — Darden Copeland, via [Campaign site](https://www.dardenforcongress.com/) **Matt Van Epps:** Supports agricultural deregulation and property rights Van Epps treats agriculture as a core economic driver for Tennessee. He pledges to protect local farmers from government regulations, environmental restrictions, and foreign purchases of agricultural land. - Pledges to defend property rights and reduce regulatory burdens on Tennessee farmers. - Opposes foreign acquisition of American farmland. - Promises to protect rural agricultural communities from progressive policy mandates. > “Farming isn't just an industry — it's a way of life in Tennessee. Farmers feed our families, power our economy, and preserve our land. Matt will fight to protect them from overregulation, foreign land grabs, and attacks from the far left.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Border Security and Immigration Salience: high Van Epps makes finishing the border wall and expanding border enforcement a top priority, while Copeland has no documented border security platform in the provided sources. **Darden Copeland:** No documented position in our sources **Matt Van Epps:** Supports strict border enforcement Van Epps prioritizes southern border security to curb illegal immigration, human trafficking, and cartel drug operations. He advocates finishing the border wall and expanding authority for Border Patrol agents. - Calls for finishing construction of the southern border wall. - Supports empowering Border Patrol to end open-border policies and combat drug trafficking, including fentanyl. - Pledges to align with Donald Trump to restore law and order at the border. > “Without secure borders, we cannot have a secure nation. Matt has seen firsthand the dangers of weak border policies — fentanyl pouring into our towns, human trafficking destroying lives, and cartels exploiting chaos.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) > “Matt will work with President Trump to keep our borders secure by finishing the wall, empowering Border Patrol, and ending the woke left's open-border agenda.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Abortion Salience: high Van Epps strongly opposes abortion and supports prohibiting taxpayer funding for the procedure, while Copeland has no documented stance on abortion in the provided sources. **Darden Copeland:** No documented position in our sources **Matt Van Epps:** Opposes abortion Van Epps holds a pro-life position, framing opposition to abortion around his Christian faith and personal values. He pledges to work with Donald Trump to restrict abortion access and ban taxpayer funding for abortion procedures. - Opposes abortion procedures and far-left reproductive legislation. - Pledges to protect unborn children and defend the sanctity of life. - Supports banning federal taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion. > “Matt believes every life is a gift from God and must be protected. As a father and a man of faith, he is committed to standing up for the unborn and fighting back against the far left's radical abortion agenda.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) > “In Congress, Matt will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump to defend the sanctity of life, promote a culture that values children and families, and ensure taxpayer dollars are never used to fund abortion.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Veterans and Military Affairs Salience: medium Van Epps centers his platform on VA reform and national defense informed by his military service, while Copeland has no documented policy platform on veterans or military affairs. **Darden Copeland:** No documented position in our sources **Matt Van Epps:** Supports VA reform and military strength Drawing on his ten years of active duty as an Army helicopter pilot and combat veteran, Van Epps promises to champion veterans' interests. He supports VA administrative reforms and strengthening national defense. - Emphasizes background as a West Point graduate, decorated combat veteran, and Air Mission Commander. - Pledges to reform the VA and streamline access to benefits and medical care for military veterans. - Supports expanding military defense capabilities under an America First framework. > “In Congress, Matt will be a relentless voice for veterans. He will work with President Trump to reform the VA, eliminate red tape, and make sure every veteran has access to the healthcare, benefits, and support they've earned.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Guns and Second Amendment Salience: medium Van Epps actively opposes firearm restrictions and defends Second Amendment rights, whereas Copeland has no documented stance on gun policy. **Darden Copeland:** No documented position in our sources **Matt Van Epps:** Opposes firearm restrictions Van Epps strongly defends Second Amendment rights, linking his position to his background as an Army Special Operations pilot. He opposes progressive gun control measures and pledges to protect firearm ownership rights for law-abiding citizens. - Opposes proposed restrictions on firearm ownership and gun control legislation. - Pledges to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. - Cites his military aviation and Special Operations experience as shaping his view on self-defense rights. > “As a decorated Army Special Operations combat pilot, Matt understands the importance of the right to keep and bear arms. The far left continues to attack this freedom, but Matt will stand firm in its defense.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### LGBTQ+ and Gender Policy Salience: low Van Epps opposes transgender participation in women's sports and transition procedures for minors, whereas Copeland has no documented position on gender policy. **Darden Copeland:** No documented position in our sources **Matt Van Epps:** Opposes gender transitions for minors and trans athletes in female sports Van Epps opposes transgender women participating in female athletic sports. He supports legislation banning medical gender transition procedures for minors and restricting taxpayer funds from financing gender transition surgeries. - Opposes transgender women participating in biological women's sports categories. - Supports federal restrictions against medical gender transition procedures for minors. - Advocates prohibiting taxpayer funds from covering gender transition surgeries. > “Matt believes women's sports must remain fair, safe, and rooted in common sense. He is firmly against allowing biological men to compete in women's athletics, and he will fight in Congress to protect the integrity of competition and the safety of female athletes.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) > “He also strongly opposes the woke left's push for gender surgeries and mutilation on minors. Matt will back a ban on taxpayer-funded gender surgeries and ensure that American families are not forced to pay for dangerous procedures.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Foreign Policy and Defense Salience: low Van Epps outlines a foreign policy centered on military readiness and defense support for Israel, while Copeland has no documented platform on foreign affairs. **Darden Copeland:** No documented position in our sources **Matt Van Epps:** Supports Israel and military readiness Van Epps supports strong strategic relations with Israel, resisting Iranian military actions, and countering antisemitism. He advocates maintaining national security through military strength. - Pledges support for Israel and defense assistance to counter regional threats. - Promises to oppose Iranian aggression and combat antisemitism. - Supports maintaining military readiness under an America First defense strategy. > “Matt will stand firm against Iran's aggression, fight antisemitism, and ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself.” > — Matt Van Epps, via [Campaign site](https://www.mattfortn.com/) ### Governance and Congressional Reform Salience: low Copeland explicitly supports congressional term limits and bipartisan consensus building, whereas Van Epps has no documented stance on governance reform. **Darden Copeland:** Supports term limits and bipartisan compromise Copeland advocates for congressional term limits and bipartisan cooperation, describing himself as a non-career politician focused on consensus building. He also calls on Congress to act as a constitutional check on executive authority. - Supports congressional term limits under the model of citizen legislators returning to civilian careers. - Pledges to reach across the aisle and focus on consensus building for working families. - Calls for Congress to restore checks and balances against single-person executive control. > “I'm all for term limits. I subscribe to the Jeffersonian theory that members of Congress should serve for a period of years and return to their districts and continue in their civilian careers.” > — Darden Copeland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Darden_Copeland) > “We need a consensus builder who will reach across the aisle when it means getting results for the working families and constituents in District 7.” > — Darden Copeland, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Darden_Copeland) **Matt Van Epps:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/tn-07-house-election-winner) — TN-07 House Election Winner: Republicans 96.7%, Democrats 3.4% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-TN07-26) — TN-07 House winner?: Matt Van Epps 96.1%, Darden Copeland 4.1% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXTNPRIMARY-07R26) — TN-07 Republican nominee?: Matt Van Epps 99.0%, Brant Hall 2.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXTNPRIMARY-07D26) — TN-07 Democratic nominee?: Darden Copeland 99.0%, Vincent Dixie 1.0%, Saletta Holloway 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-tn-07)