Supreme Court Weighs Overturning Campaign Finance Limits
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliberate on a Republican-initiated challenge, supported by the Trump administration, aimed at dismantling long-standing limitations on political party spending in coordination with congressional and presidential candidates. This case revisits a 2001 ruling that upheld a federal election law provision that has been in place for over 50 years.
Currently, Democrats are urging the court to maintain these legal restrictions. The existing limits are designed to prevent large donors from bypassing individual contribution caps by funneling unlimited funds to parties, which would then be spent in favor of specific candidates.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Republican Party are advocating for the removal of these limits, a move consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions that have loosened restrictions on election-related fundraising and expenditures. Under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the court’s conservative majority has previously overturned several congressional measures regulating election finances, notably through the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allowed for unlimited independent spending in federal elections.
After the Trump administration aligned with Republicans in challenging the campaign finance law, the Supreme Court appointed Roman Martinez, a seasoned court advocate, to defend it. Martinez suggests the court could declare the case moot, given that the FEC now concurs with the Republicans’ view of the law’s unconstitutionality and there is “no credible risk” of enforcement.
This legal action was initiated by Republican committees backing House and Senate candidates, along with two Ohio Republican lawmakers at the time, JD Vance and Steve Chabot. The spending limits for coordinated party expenditures in 2025 are set to range from $127,200 for Senate races in smaller states to nearly $4 million in California. For House races, the limits are $127,200 in states with a single representative and $63,600 elsewhere.
