Darden Copeland
D · U.S. House, TN-7 · Tier 2
Tier 2, “Mainstream pro-Israel”
Asked in a September 2025 Nashville Banner questionnaire whether the U.S. is spending the appropriate amount, too much or not enough to support Israel, he wrote: “America has long-supported Israel through decades and multiple administrations. That should continue. But, clearly, President Trump’s ability to impact Israel’s policy has faded. The diplomats he sends to the Middle East to try and broker a cease fire have no experience in diplomacy and no background in Middle East policy. America has long seen a two state solution as an integral part of the peace process, but we’re farther away from seeing that happen than we’ve ever been.” Asked whether he would authorize further U.S. involvement in Israel’s war with Iran, he wrote: “Not based on what I know at this moment,” adding that he prefers “more diplomacy or strictly limited actions versus a full-scale U.S. war with Iran.” The founder and CEO of the Nashville public-affairs firm Calvert Street Group and a former campaign strategist, he runs on protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering costs and ending partisan fighting.
A 2, on a thin record: one questionnaire answer from September 2025, which his campaign links from its news page. Asked by the Nashville Banner whether the U.S. spends the right amount to support Israel, he wrote that America “has long-supported Israel through decades and multiple administrations. That should continue,” faulted the envoys President Trump sends to broker a ceasefire as having “no experience in diplomacy,” and said a two-state solution is farther away than ever. On Israel’s war with Iran, he would not authorize further U.S. involvement “based on what I know at this moment,” preferring “more diplomacy or strictly limited actions.” It is a mainstream Democratic answer: continued support for Israel, criticism aimed at Trump rather than at Israel’s conduct, and no daylight. His campaign site, his 2025 and 2026 Ballotpedia surveys and his July 2026 Banner questionnaire say nothing else on Israel, and his FEC filings show no money from AIPAC, its super PAC or DMFI. Counter-case: a 1/2, since he backs continued support with no condition and says nothing about Palestinians in Gaza.
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elect26 places 2026 midterm candidates on a six-tier spectrum, from 1 (most pro-Israel) to 6 (most critical of Israel).