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Supreme Court gives GOP campaign committees a win on TV ad rates
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- The Supreme Court granted an emergency appeal from Republicans, pausing a lower-court ruling that limited discounted TV ad prices to candidates, thereby allowing political parties to access cheaper broadcast ads ahead of the midterm elections.
- The Trump administration supported the GOP appeal, which follows a June ruling that removed limits on party spending coordinated with candidates, benefiting the GOP due to its financial advantage.
- Four Democrats, including Senators Jon Ossoff and Sherrod Brown, had challenged the FCC’s decision to extend discounted ad rates to party-coordinated ads, winning a favorable ruling from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The Supreme Court majority agreed the lower court acted prematurely, noting that higher ad costs could hinder party committees' outreach efforts before the midterms, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the unsigned order.
- The emergency order pauses the appeals court decision as the Republican committees prepare a more comprehensive appeal.
