Supreme Court sides with Republicans in fight over broadcast ad rates

September 4, 2026 / 4:32 PM EDT / CBS News

The Supreme Court on Friday granted Republicans' request to halt a lower court decision that prevented political party committees from receiving more favorable broadcast advertising rates, giving the GOP a win weeks before the November elections.

The order from the high court restores guidance from the Federal Communications Commission that allows political parties and committees access to cheaper rates for political ads in the run-up to the midterms. The decision could be a boon for national Republican groups, which have amassed bigger war chests than their Democratic counterparts and can flood the airwaves with more ads in support of GOP candidates.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has reserved $10.8 million in television ads for 23 House races this month, according to the group and AdImpact.

The move by the NRCC, which aims to expand Republicans' ranks in the House, comes after the Supreme Court in June struck down federal limits on the amount of money political committees can spend in coordination with federal candidates.

In an unsigned decision, the Supreme Court said the appeals court likely did not have jurisdiction to address the challenge to the FCC's policy that was…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/