No. 21-12October Term 2021Decided May 16, 2022Updated May 25, 2026
Federal Election Comm'n v. Cruz
Federal Election Comm'n v. Ted Cruz
This case is about a federal campaign-finance law that capped at $250,000 the amount of post-election donations a campaign could use to repay money a candidate personally loaned to the campaign.
Case status
Decided 6-3 · May 16, 2022 · Opinion by Chief Justice Roberts
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released May 16, 2022
- What it's about
This case is about a federal campaign-finance law that capped at $250,000 the amount of post-election donations a campaign could use to repay money a candidate personally loaned to the campaign. Ted Cruz and his campaign argued that the cap harmed them and unconstitutionally discouraged candidates from financing their own campaigns.
Question presented
1. Whether appellees have standing to challenge the statutory loan-repayment limit. 2. Whether the loan-repayment limit violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment.
- Case path
United States District Court for the District of Columbia / Decision released May 16, 2022
- Area
First Amendment, Elections
Timing
Decided May 16, 2022
The Court released its decision on May 16, 2022 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 25, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
May 16, 2022 | Court records
Brief added: Jurisdictional Statement
Jul 2, 2021 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology