Democratic congressional candidate Darden Copeland is presenting himself as candidate for transparency, but the accusations involving Calvert Street Group, his Nashville-based public relations firm, could complicate his campaign’s emphasis on accountability and restoring trust in government.
Copeland, who is challenging Republican congressman Matt Van Epps in Tennessee, has built a career in political campaigns and public affairs.
Copeland founded Calvert Street Group in 2009 after working in Democratic politics, including campaigns associated with Al Gore and Tim Kaine. The firm has represented clients seeking approval for development projects and has worked on contentious local issues including landfills and commercial development.
In April 2025, the Nashville Scene reported that Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland had accused two Calvert Street Group employees of posing as local residents at a town hall meeting to support a proposed expansion of the Middle Point Landfill.
Republic Services, a waste management company, had hired the firm to advance the expansion proposal. McFarland alleged that the conduct misled residents by making paid advocates appear to be members of the community. “We don’t believe in paying people from outside our community to deceive our residents,” McFarland said in a statement.
Footage of the meeting appeared to show two Calvert Street employees speaking in support of the expansion.
Copeland told The Daily Wire the Murfreesboro incident was a “mistake” and that he has taken steps to make sure it “never” happens again.
Beyond questionable business tactics, Copeland’s current principled stance runs in conflict with prior support for far left candidate Aftyn Behn. In a video posted after he lost the 2025 primary to Behn, Copeland urged voters to support her bid to flip the district, calling on viewers to volunteer, donate, and phone-bank.
Tennessee’s seventh district is expected to be a safe seat for Republicans, with the Cook Political Report rating it as “Solid R.” However, the district was redrawn in the state’s mid-decade redistricting, and nearly half of it is new to Van Epps, according to Cook.
Copeland’s campaign has emphasized accountability, healthcare costs, and support for working- and middle-class families. He has also pledged to oppose corporate PAC money and to pursue reforms aimed at restoring trust in government.
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“Let’s work the plan. Aftyn’s got it. She’s got the momentum. She’s got the grassroots. We’re going to flip the seat,” Copeland said. “Let’s get behind Aftyn.” He later put out a video on Instagram with Behn volunteers, canvassing and door knocking in an Aftyn Behn hat.
Aftyn Behn —dubbed by critics as “the AOC of Tennessee— is a Democratic state representative known for her radical politics, which include abolition of prisons, support for burning down police stations, and the belief that men can give birth. She is more than willing to act on those beliefs, while not being slowed down by family, once announcing that “I don’t want children. I want power!”
She narrowly won the 2025 Democratic primary for the seat, defeating Copeland and two other candidates, but ultimately lost the special general election to Van Epps. Copeland won the party’s 2026 primary, setting up a November 3 general election contest against Van Epps.
Copeland’s website describes his work as advocating for working- and middle-class families and says he has spent his career building consensus.
When asked about his connection to Behn, Copeland’s campaign balked at supporting the far-left figure, responding, “I spent over $700k trying to beat Aftyn Behn in the primary because Middle Tennessee wants a moderate to represent them in Congress.”
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