Darden Hunter 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.”

“As a kid, when times got tough, we were fortunate to have a safety net. My mom worked 40-plus hours on the overnight shift at the local factory so we could have health benefits. I tripled my student loan debt and held four jobs each semester in college. My sister joined the Air Force so she could go to college, and my brother joined a labor union (UFCW). And my parents spoiled us with unconditional love.”

“My focus is on winning the seat back.”

“I'm not focused on celebrating that I could beat other Democrats.”

“Yes. This isn't a matter of political opinion. It's the foundational principle of separation of powers that the Founders built into the Constitution precisely because they understood the danger of concentrating both the power to make laws and the power to control spending in a single person or office. The Founders gave Congress "the power of the purse" and the President should not be allowed to ignore it. Matt Van Epps has proven he sides with President Trump.”

“No. The federal tax code continues to favor those at the very top and leaves working and middle-class families picking up more than their fair share of the tab. The clearest example is how we tax different types of income. Right now, we tax work at a higher rate than we do wealth. A teacher, a nurse, or a factory worker pays ordinary income tax rates on every dollar they earn. But a hedge fund manager or a private equity partner often pays a lower capital gains rate on income that comes from managing other people's money. That's the carried interest loophole, and it's indefensible.”