In a 7-2 decision that had resounding import for election integrity, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court ruling that Congressman Michael Bost and two other candidates lacked standing to challenge the Illinois law that allows election officials to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if they are received within 14 days thereafter.

Bost and the two other plaintiffs argued that the process of an “extended” counting period violates federal statutes (2 U.S.C. §7 and 3 U.S.C. §1), which establish a single “Election Day” as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The District Court and the Seventh Circuit dismissed the case, concluding that the petitioners lacked standing under Article III because they could not prove the rule would cause them to lose or significantly harm their campaigns.

But the Supreme Court held that a candidate for office has standing to challenge the rules governing their own election based on their unique status and interest in the process.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion, which invoked a standing rule for candidates, emphasizing that they are not “mere bystanders” in the electoral process. The Court argued that while voters have a general interest in election integrity, a candidate’s interest is “different in kind.” Candidates spend vast resources seeking to represent the people and have a concrete stake in ensuring the results accurately reflect the people’s will.

Roberts noted that rules undermining election integrity also undermine the winner’s political legitimacy. For an elected official, a loss of public confidence — even if they win — is a “reputational harm” which constitutes a classic Article III injury. The Court refused to require candidates to prove they would likely lose in order to gain standing. Roberts argued that forcing candidates to wait until an election is close or finished to sue would lead to “late-breaking, court-ordered rule changes” that cause voter confusion and undermine democratic stability.

The Court warned that requiring proof of a “substantial risk of loss” would turn judges into “political prognosticators,” a role outside their judicial expertise.

The Trump administration said Wednesday that the second phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza has begun, a step aimed at establishing a “technocratic” Palestinian administration and launching the demilitarization and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

“Today, on behalf of President Trump, we are announcing the launch of Phase Two of the President’s 20-Point Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced. 

President Trump is expected to address the press at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday to unveil the leadership of Gaza’s new technocratic governing body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The group of unelected experts and professionals will oversee the transitional period as armed groups are dismantled and reconstruction begins.

Witkoff said the United States expects Hamas to “comply fully with its obligations,” including the return of the body of Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage held in Gaza.

“Failure to do so will bring serious consequences,” Witkoff said.

The Palestinian Authority publicly welcomed the launch of the second phase, signaling rare alignment with the Trump administration. 

In a statement, Palestinian Authority President Hussein Al Sheikh said the Palestinian Presidency “welcomes the efforts undertaken by President Donald Trump to complete the implementation of his peace plan,” and announced its support for the NCAG as well as the “Board of Peace.”

The new Gaza governing body will be supported by a Trump-led Board of Peace with former United Nations envoy Nickolay Mladenov as the representative on the ground, Axios reported. 

Al Sheikh said the Palestinian Authority worked in close coordination with Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Mladenov to move into the second phase. 

“The Presidency expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude for the decisive leadership demonstrated by President Donald Trump, whose direct engagement and determination have contributed to creating a new opportunity for peace, stability, and good governance in Gaza,” Al Sheikh said.

At the same time, Al Sheikh added that he believes it’s important to link the Palestinian Authority institutions in the West Bank to the new governing structure in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed the Palestinian Authority having oversight in Gaza, citing its long practice of rewarding terrorists for killing Israelis.

Phase One of the plan, implemented in October, established a ceasefire, secured the return of all living hostages and most of the deceased, and delivered a surge of humanitarian aid. 

More than 20 countries signaled support for the ceasefire at President Trump’s Peace Summit in Egypt, including Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, whose roles Witkoff described as having “indispensable mediation efforts that made all progress to date possible.”