Why did the Supreme Court twice pause the Fourth Circuit over campaign airtime?
Timeline for Fourth Circuit
Ordered the FCC to decide the challenge by 9 October
US Midterms 2026: Supreme Court keeps parties' ad discountBackground
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is the federal appeals court for Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. It sits in Richmond, Virginia, has 15 active judgeships and is led by Chief Judge Albert Diaz.
In 2026 it handled the challenge to FCC guidance that lets party committees coordinating with candidates buy airtime at the candidates' discounted rate. The guidance followed NRSC v. FEC, which struck the caps on coordinated party spending in June, after which the NRSC moved its ad money into coordinated buys. On 7 October a 2-1 panel, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson dissenting, ordered the FCC to decide the challenge by 9 October.
the Supreme Court stayed that order on 14 October, as it had stayed the Court's August ruling in the same dispute.
What states does the Fourth Circuit cover?
What did the Fourth Circuit order the FCC to do?
Where is the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 17 October 2026. Editorial standards.