The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a dispute over discounted television and radio advertising rates for political party committees, adding a new development to the legal battles surrounding the 2026 midterm elections.

In its October 14 decision, the court allowed the FCC to avoid a lower-court deadline that would have required it to rule on a Democratic challenge before the November 3 elections, according to Reuters.

The policy concerns rules requiring broadcasters to offer qualifying political advertisers their lowest rates during the final 60 days before a general election. The FCC changed its interpretation of these rules earlier this year, a move critics argue could benefit Republican campaign committees.

Democratic candidates, including Senator Jon Ossoff, have challenged the policy through the FCC’s administrative process. The agency has not yet resolved the dispute.

The ruling does not settle the underlying challenge, but it leaves the policy in place as campaigns enter the final stretch before Election Day. The outcome could influence how political committees compete for broadcast advertising and how election-related disputes are handled in the courts.

With control of Congress at stake, campaign spending rules and access to advertising remain important issues in the 2026 midterm race.