Chief Justice John Roberts gave the Federal Communications Commission a temporary win on Thursday in its legal battle over who is entitled to favorable advertising rates in the closing weeks of the costly and hotly contested midterm elections.

Roberts granted an administrative stay of a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit that would have forced the FCC to issue a final ruling on a revised rule allowing political parties and joint fundraising committees to access the more favorable television advertisement rates that are typically reserved for political candidates. The Democratic congressional candidates who brought the challenge are hoping to strike down the revised rule due to their cash advantage with individual candidates, and Republicans have pushed for the new rule due to their significant cash advantage at the party level.