Richard Wolf

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Having freed wealthy donors to give to as many political candidates and committees as they wish, the Supreme Court refused Monday to lift a ban on corporate contributions.

The case, brought by the Iowa Right to Life Committee, challenged that state's ban on direct donations by corporations. Some campaign finance experts had speculated it could be the next roadblock at risk with the court's conservative majority.

The high court last week struck down federal limits on the overall amount, currently $123,200, that donors can give to candidates, committees and political parties during a two-year election cycle. The 5-4 ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission kept in place the limits on each individual contribution.

Campaign donors can give $2,600 to a federal candidate in each primary and general election. They can give $32,400 to a national party committee, $10,000 to a state, district or local party committee, and $5,000 to any other political committee per year. Those limits were not changed.

In 2010, the court ruled that corporations can spend unlimited amounts independently on political campaigns. But the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision did not affect direct donations.