Supreme Court strikes down party spending caps before 2026 midterms

On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission that FECA’s limits on political-party spending coordinated with candidates violate the First Amendment. Justice Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion for Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Barrett. Justices Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson dissented.

The Court reversed the Sixth Circuit and said Colorado II is overruled to the extent it still had force. The opinion says Congress can still use base contribution limits, earmarking rules, and disclosure requirements to guard against circumvention, but it cannot keep the party-spending caps challenged in this case.

What changes next

For now, the ruling gives party committees more room to spend alongside federal candidates in the 2026 campaign cycle. The FEC’s 2026 page still shows the old limits, including Senate caps from $130,600 to $4,071,800 and House caps of $65,300 in most states, so campaigns, lawyers, and the agency will have to sort out how the new decision changes practice.

That could mean more party-funded ads, mail, and field spending in competitive House and Senate races, but it is not a blank check: the remaining contribution, earmarking, and disclosure rules still matter.

Sources

• Supreme Court opinion: National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC (June 30, 2026)
• FEC: Coordinated party expenditure limits for 2026
• Associated Press: Supreme Court strikes down limits on party spending in federal elections
• KPBS Public Media: Supreme Court strikes down limits on political party spending