Republicans and the Trump administration are set to argue before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that long-standing limits on campaign finance should be struck down. The case challenges a federal law that restricts how much party political committees can spend in coordination with federal candidates.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, former Senator JD Vance, and former Representative Steve Chabot contend that the law infringes on political committees’ free-speech rights, allowing them to advocate for candidates they support. Legal experts say a ruling in their favor would align with the court’s conservative majority and could enable large donors to have a greater financial influence on individual campaigns.
The law in question was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, but the Trump administration declined to defend it, prompting the Supreme Court to appoint outside attorneys to uphold the lower court ruling. The NRSC’s brief argues that the 2001 Supreme Court decision upholding the law was a “legal aberration” and that the limits are not tied to corruption concerns but rather population-based calculations. The brief also asserts that restrictions have driven donors to less-regulated PACs and weakened party influence.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments on whether the coordinated spending limits violate constitutional rights, with a decision likely before the end of the court’s term in June. Democrats, including the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC, have filed briefs defending the limits, saying they prevent corruption and ensure parties maintain resources for long-term operations.
The coordinated expenditure limits originate from the Federal Election Campaign Act and were updated in 2014 to raise spending caps and expand allowable expenses. For House races, limits generally reach $63,600, with adjustments in smaller or larger states, and Senate race caps vary by state. Advocates warn that removing the limits could let large donors channel significant funds directly toward favored candidates, effectively bypassing current donation caps.
The Supreme Court’s consideration follows a broader trend of rulings over the last 15 years that have eased campaign finance restrictions, including Citizens United v. FEC in 2010, McCutcheon v. FEC in 2014, and a 2022 case involving Senator Ted Cruz, reflecting a judicial skepticism toward campaign finance limits and corruption concerns.