WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is considering a Republican-led drive, backed by President Donald Trump’s administration, to overturn a quarter-century-old decision and erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president.
A day after the justices indicated they would overturn a 90-year-old decision limiting the president's power to fire independent agency heads, the court is revisiting a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old.
Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law.
The limits stem from a desire to prevent large donors from skirting caps on individual contributions to a candidate by directing unlimited sums to the party, with the understanding that the money will be spent on behalf of the candidate.
The Federal Election Commission and the GOP argue that the court should cast a skeptical eye on the limits, in line with recent high court decisions. Led by Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative majority has upended a variety of congressionally enacted limits on raising and spending money to influence elections. The court’s 2010 Citizens United decision opened the door to unlimited independent spending in federal elections.
After the Trump administration joined with Republicans to ask the court to strike down the campaign finance law, the justices appointed a lawyer to defend it.
Roman Martinez, an experienced Supreme Court advocate, is offering the justices a way out of the case without deciding anything. Instead, they should hold the case is moot now that the FEC agrees with Republicans that the law is unconstitutional and there is “no credible risk” the agency will try to enforce it, Martinez wrote.
The Republican committees for House and Senate candidates filed the lawsuit in Ohio in 2022, joined by two Ohio Republicans in Congress, then-Sen. JD Vance, now vice president, and then-Rep. Steve Chabot.
In 2025, the coordinated party spending for Senate races ranges from $127,200 in several states with small populations to nearly $4 million in California. For House races, the limits are $127,200 in states with only one representative and $63,600 everywhere else.
FILE - The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Cameron Dicker kicked a go-ahead 54-yard field goal — one of his five in the game — and Tony Jefferson intercepted Jalen Hurts at the 1-yard line, lifting the Los Angeles Chargers to a 22-19 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Eagles in a messy game for both teams.
The Chargers (9-4) overcame Odafe Oweh's penalty on a neutral zone infraction that gave the Eagles a first down on 4th and 4. One play later, Hurts threw deep to Jahan Dotson in double-coverage only to have Jefferson keep his feet in bounds on the game-ending play.
Hurts threw four interceptions and the Eagles committed five turnovers. The defending Super Bowl champions lost their season-worst third in a row and fell to 8-5.
Dicker's 46-yard field goal with 12 seconds left sent the game to the 10-minute extra session tied 19-19 after Jake Elliott's 44-yarder minutes earlier had put the Eagles ahead 19-16. Dicker was 5 for 5.
Elliott had four field goals of his own at SoFi Stadium, where the Eagles' green-and-white jerseys dotted the crowd.
Saquon Barkley gave the Eagles their first lead with a 52-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter that made it 16-13.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was 12 of 26 for 138 yards, one touchdown and one interception while playing with a surgically repaired non-throwing left hand. He also ran for 66 yards on 10 carries.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was 21 of 40 for 240 yards and four interceptions. In the first quarter, he had two turnovers on the same play as part of a chaotic sequence in which he was intercepted and he fumbled. Da’Shawn Hand picked off Hurts and then fumbled the ball before Hurts recovered and the quarterback fumbled and Troy Dye recovered to give the Chargers possession.
Elliott also kicked field goals of 41, 30 and 54 yards for the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (9-4), who stopped a two-game skid while boosting their playoff hopes.
The Eagles had five turnovers and the Chargers had three.
Barkley ran for a combined 78 yards in the Eagles' losses to the Cowboys and Bears before notching 122 on 20 carries for just the second time this season. He had 150 yards against the New York Giants on Oct. 26.
The Chargers tied the score 16-16 on Dicker's 31-yard field goal with 7:26 remaining in the fourth.
Eagles: LG Landon Dickerson left with a calf injury in the third quarter.
Chargers: WR Derius Davis sustained an ankle injury, and RT Trey Pipkins III (ankle) left in the second quarter. S Derwin James Jr. was evaluated for a head injury, but returned minutes later in the second. ... S Elijah Molden (hamstring) left the game in the third.
Eagles: Host Las Vegas on Sunday.
Chargers: Visit Kansas City on Sunday. The Chiefs lost 27-21 in the teams' season opener in Brazil.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson (8) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II (86) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) and linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (45) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws as he tackled by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws as he is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
