Republican committees surge spending after Supreme Court lifts coordinated-ad limits

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to eliminate federal restrictions on coordinated campaign expenditures, a move that took effect immediately. Republican committees responded by dramatically expanding their spending in July and August, surpassing Democratic committees by a large margin according to Federal Election Commission filings. The increase is intended to offset Democratic fundraising advantages in key swing districts.

Republican Senate and House committees together spent roughly $56 million on coordinated activities, while Democratic committees spent about $6 million in the same period. The NRSC targeted nine Senate races with coordinated spending that exceeded prior state limits, including multi-million-dollar boosts for candidates in Ohio and North Carolina. New FCC rules, temporarily upheld by the Court, also allow parties to use the lowest-cost broadcast rates, further stretching Republican dollars. Both sides anticipate even higher outlays as the November midterms near.