Supreme Court prevents Arizona from giving publicly funded candidates extra campaign cash

Court blocks Arizona candidates’ matching funds

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has blocked Arizona from distributing extra campaign money to political candidates who are relying on public funding.

The court says in a brief order Tuesday that it will prevent the state from using its system of so-called matching funds at least until the justices decide whether to hear the full appeal of opponents of the campaign funding system.

Publicly funded candidates get matching funds when they’re outspent by privately funded rivals or targeted by independent groups’ spending.

Lower courts split on whether matching funds are constitutional.