TN US House District 7: Copeland defeats Dixie in Dem primary, setting up matchup with Van Epps

Nashville businessman Darden Copeland won the Democratic Primary for Tennessee’s U.S. House District 7 Thursday, setting up a general election matchup with Clarksville Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Van Epps.

Copeland defeated Nashville state Rep. Vincent Dixie, former Nashville Metro Councilmember Saletta Holloway and teacher Joshua Sales in the primary. Copeland had 41% of the vote as of 8:34  p.m., when The Associated Press called the race.

Van Epps, a former Tennessee General Services Commissioner, is seeking his first full term in the U.S. House after winning a special election for the 7th District seat in December. The seat was previously held by Mark Green, who stepped down in July 2025.

Copeland and Dixie competed in the special election, but both lost in the Democratic primary to Nashville state Rep. Aftyn Behn. Van Epps went on to beat Behn in a highly publicized general special election.

Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District was redrawn during the state’s last-minute May redistricting process. The district now swings around Clarksville on its western edge, dipping down into parts of northwest Nashville and Dickson before running east, ending in Macon County.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the district as “Solid Republican” with a Republican plus 11 ranking.

Copeland is the founder and CEO of Calvert Street Group, a public affairs firm based in Nashville.

Van Epps is a former military helicopter pilot and served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services under Gov. Bill Lee.