Two Republican campaign committees have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve a federal rule granting them discounted television and radio advertising rates, as President Donald Trump’s party seeks to retain control of Congress in November’s midterms.
In a filing released Monday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee asked the justices to halt a lower-court decision that blocked them from using the Federal Communications Commission‘s “lowest unit charge” policy.
That rule obligates broadcasters to offer reduced ad rates during the 60 days leading up to a general election, a timeframe starting Friday. Guidance the FCC published in March noted that party committees qualify for these lower rates on ads coordinated with candidates.
The policy took on added significance after the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on coordinated spending between parties and candidates in June. One Republican official told Reuters that the combination of that ruling and discounted airtime means, “Our dollars can go further than they could before.”
Republicans are attempting to maintain their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate in the November 3 elections.
Federal Election Commission filings from August showed the three main Republican committees, the Republican National Committee, NRCC, and NRSC, ended July with about $279 million in cash.
That was double the roughly $136 million held by Democratic committees, which also had nearly $18 million in debt.
A group of Democratic candidates, including Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, filed suit in June to block party committees from using the discount.
On August 25, the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Democrats, ruling political parties are not entitled to reduced rates. The Republican committees then requested the Supreme Court halt that ruling before the FCC policy begins this week.
In court documents, Republican panels said they budgeted “tens of millions of dollars in ad buys under these rules.” They added, “But because of the 4th Circuit’s decision, broadcast stations are already rescinding those rates.”
In June, the conservative 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court decided that spending limits on coordinated party campaign efforts violate First Amendment protections of free speech.
It was the latest ruling dismantling campaign finance limits, adding to several decisions favoring Republicans during the court’s recently concluded term.