Tennessee Democrat Talks Trust. His Firm’s Employees Were Accused Of Playing Locals.

Democrat Darden Copeland, who is running against Republican Representative Matt Van Epps in Tennessee's seventh district, is campaigning on accountability and public trust, but a past controversy at his Nashville public relations firm may undercut that message. Daily Wire reports that Calvert Street Group, which Copeland founded in 2009, was accused in April 2025 of sending two employees to a Murfreesboro town hall disguised as ordinary residents. According to the Nashville Scene, Mayor Shane McFarland charged that the pair were there to boost a proposed Middle Point Landfill expansion on behalf of Republic Services, the waste company that had retained the firm. Video of the meeting appeared to show both employees voicing support. Copeland told Daily Wire the episode was a "mistake" and said steps have been taken to prevent a repeat.

Daily Wire also points to Copeland's backing of state Representative Aftyn Behn, who beat Copeland and two other candidates in the 2025 Democratic primary before losing the special general election to Van Epps. Copeland then won the 2026 nomination, and the two meet on November 3. Cook Political Report rates the seat Solid R.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Daily Wire’s reporting. Read the full story at Daily Wire →