National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Comm’n · ¶45

Second, some might suggest that the Government possesses an interest in preventing a political party (as distinct from donors) from exercising undue influence on its candidates. But amicus and intervenors do not try to justify the political-party coordinated-expenditure limits on that basis. For good reason. Such a theory does not “make any sense” given the thoroughly intertwined relationship of parties and their candidates. 117 F. 4th 389, 402 (CA6 2024) (en banc) (Thapar, J., concurring). As JUSTICE THOMAS has succinctly explained, any influence a political party exerts over its candidates and officials “is not corruption”—it is “successful advocacy of ideas in the political marketplace and representative government in a party system.” Colorado I, 518 U. S., at 646 (opinion concurring in judgment and dissenting in part).

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