Signal US Supreme Court strikes down party coordinated-expenditure limits as unconstitutional (NRSC v. FEC)

Summary

In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, decided 6-3 on June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court struck down federal limits on political parties' "coordinated expenditures" — spending on campaign activities conducted in consultation with candidates — that had capped such spending at roughly $4 million for Senate races and $130,000 for House races since being enacted in 1974 after Watergate. Justice Kavanaugh, writing for the majority joined by Chief Justice Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch and Barrett, held the limits "disproportionate" and not "necessary and narrowly tailored," overturning the 25-year-old precedent FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (Colorado II, 2001) and reversing an en banc Sixth Circuit ruling that had upheld the limits. The case was originally filed in 2022 by the NRSC, NRCC, then-Senate-candidate J.D. Vance and former Representative Steve Chabot, with the federal government declining to defend the limits and the DNC, DSCC and DCCC intervening instead; oral arguments were heard December 9, 2025. Vance's standing remained relevant even after he became vice president, since he still maintains an active Statement of Candidacy and campaign committee for a potential 2028 Senate run. The ruling leaves intact FECA's base contribution limits, earmarking rules and disclosure requirements, and does not address coordinated spending by super PACs or other non-party outside groups, but is expected to unleash significantly increased coordinated spending between national party committees (RNC, DNC, NRSC, DSCC, NRCC, DCCC) and federal candidates.