diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php
index 90de255c82971..512df0fbf8c0f 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme-json.php
@@ -2888,8 +2888,23 @@ static function ( $pseudo_selector ) use ( $selector ) {
 			$declarations = static::update_separator_declarations( $declarations );
 		}
 
+		/*
+		 * Top-level element styles using element-only specificity selectors should
+		 * not get wrapped in `:root :where()` to maintain backwards compatibility.
+		 *
+		 * Pseudo classes, e.g. :hover, :focus etc., are a class-level selector so
+		 * still need to be wrapped in `:root :where` to cap specificity for nested
+		 * variations etc. Pseudo selectors won't match the ELEMENTS selector exactly.
+		 */
+		$element_only_selector = $current_element &&
+			isset( static::ELEMENTS[ $current_element ] ) &&
+			// buttons, captions etc. still need `:root :where()` as they are class based selectors.
+			! isset( static::__EXPERIMENTAL_ELEMENT_CLASS_NAMES[ $current_element ] ) &&
+			static::ELEMENTS[ $current_element ] === $selector;
+
 		// 2. Generate and append the rules that use the general selector.
-		$block_rules .= static::to_ruleset( ":root :where($selector)", $declarations );
+		$general_selector = $element_only_selector ? $selector : ":root :where($selector)";
+		$block_rules     .= static::to_ruleset( $general_selector, $declarations );
 
 		// 3. Generate and append the rules that use the duotone selector.
 		if ( isset( $block_metadata['duotone'] ) && ! empty( $declarations_duotone ) ) {
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/wpThemeJson.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/wpThemeJson.php
index 7190399d8dc10..68b5cd9aaf7d9 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/wpThemeJson.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/theme/wpThemeJson.php
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ public function test_get_settings_appearance_false_does_not_opt_in() {
 	 * @ticket 60365
 	 * @ticket 60936
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_stylesheet() {
 		$theme_json = new WP_Theme_JSON(
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet() {
 		);
 
 		$variables = ':root{--wp--preset--color--grey: grey;--wp--preset--gradient--custom-gradient: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(0,0,0) 0%,rgb(0,0,0) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 14px;--wp--preset--font-size--big: 41px;--wp--preset--font-family--arial: Arial, serif;}.wp-block-group{--wp--custom--base-font: 16;--wp--custom--line-height--small: 1.2;--wp--custom--line-height--medium: 1.4;--wp--custom--line-height--large: 1.8;}';
-		$styles    = ':where(body) { margin: 0; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignleft { float: left; margin-right: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignright { float: right; margin-left: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .aligncenter { justify-content: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:root :where(body){color: var(--wp--preset--color--grey);}:root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: #333;color: #111;}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.66);}:root :where(.wp-block-cover){min-height: unset;aspect-ratio: 16/9;}:root :where(.wp-block-group){background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--custom-gradient);border-radius: 10px;min-height: 50vh;padding: 24px;}:root :where(.wp-block-group a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: #111;}:root :where(.wp-block-heading){color: #123456;}:root :where(.wp-block-heading a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: #333;color: #111;font-size: 60px;}:root :where(.wp-block-media-text){text-align: center;}:root :where(.wp-block-post-date){color: #123456;}:root :where(.wp-block-post-date a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: #777;color: #555;}:root :where(.wp-block-post-excerpt){column-count: 2;}:root :where(.wp-block-image){margin-bottom: 30px;}:root :where(.wp-block-image img, .wp-block-image .wp-block-image__crop-area, .wp-block-image .components-placeholder){border-top-left-radius: 10px;border-bottom-right-radius: 1em;}:root :where(.wp-block-image img, .wp-block-image .components-placeholder){filter: var(--wp--preset--duotone--custom-duotone);}';
+		$styles    = ':where(body) { margin: 0; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignleft { float: left; margin-right: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .alignright { float: right; margin-left: 2em; }.wp-site-blocks > .aligncenter { justify-content: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-flow > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}.is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}.is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}.is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:root :where(body){color: var(--wp--preset--color--grey);}a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){background-color: #333;color: #111;}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.66);}:root :where(.wp-block-cover){min-height: unset;aspect-ratio: 16/9;}:root :where(.wp-block-group){background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--custom-gradient);border-radius: 10px;min-height: 50vh;padding: 24px;}:root :where(.wp-block-group a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){color: #111;}:root :where(.wp-block-heading){color: #123456;}:root :where(.wp-block-heading a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: #333;color: #111;font-size: 60px;}:root :where(.wp-block-media-text){text-align: center;}:root :where(.wp-block-post-date){color: #123456;}:root :where(.wp-block-post-date a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: #777;color: #555;}:root :where(.wp-block-post-excerpt){column-count: 2;}:root :where(.wp-block-image){margin-bottom: 30px;}:root :where(.wp-block-image img, .wp-block-image .wp-block-image__crop-area, .wp-block-image .components-placeholder){border-top-left-radius: 10px;border-bottom-right-radius: 1em;}:root :where(.wp-block-image img, .wp-block-image .components-placeholder){filter: var(--wp--preset--duotone--custom-duotone);}';
 		$presets   = '.has-grey-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--grey) !important;}.has-grey-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--grey) !important;}.has-grey-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--grey) !important;}.has-custom-gradient-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--custom-gradient) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-big-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--big) !important;}.has-arial-font-family{font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--arial) !important;}';
 		$all       = $variables . $styles . $presets;
 
@@ -835,6 +836,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_generates_proper_classes_and_css_vars_from_s
 	 * @ticket 58550
 	 * @ticket 60936
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_styles_for_block_handles_whitelisted_element_pseudo_selectors() {
 		$theme_json = new WP_Theme_JSON(
@@ -882,7 +884,7 @@ public function test_get_styles_for_block_handles_whitelisted_element_pseudo_sel
 			'selector' => 'a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):focus',
 		);
 
-		$link_style  = ':root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: red;color: green;}';
+		$link_style  = 'a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){background-color: red;color: green;}';
 		$hover_style = ':root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: green;color: red;font-size: 10em;text-transform: uppercase;}';
 		$focus_style = ':root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):focus){background-color: black;color: yellow;}';
 
@@ -938,6 +940,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_handles_only_pseudo_selector_rules_for_given
 	 * @ticket 58550
 	 * @ticket 60936
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_stylesheet_ignores_pseudo_selectors_on_non_whitelisted_elements() {
 		$theme_json = new WP_Theme_JSON(
@@ -968,7 +971,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_ignores_pseudo_selectors_on_non_whitelisted_
 			)
 		);
 
-		$expected = ':root :where(h4){background-color: red;color: green;}';
+		$expected = 'h4{background-color: red;color: green;}';
 
 		$this->assertSame( $expected, $theme_json->get_stylesheet( array( 'styles' ), null, array( 'skip_root_layout_styles' => true ) ) );
 	}
@@ -978,6 +981,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_ignores_pseudo_selectors_on_non_whitelisted_
 	 * @ticket 58550
 	 * @ticket 60936
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_stylesheet_ignores_non_whitelisted_pseudo_selectors() {
 		$theme_json = new WP_Theme_JSON(
@@ -1008,7 +1012,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_ignores_non_whitelisted_pseudo_selectors() {
 			)
 		);
 
-		$expected = ':root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: red;color: green;}:root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: green;color: red;}';
+		$expected = 'a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){background-color: red;color: green;}:root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: green;color: red;}';
 
 		$this->assertSame( $expected, $theme_json->get_stylesheet( array( 'styles' ), null, array( 'skip_root_layout_styles' => true ) ) );
 		$this->assertStringNotContainsString( 'a:levitate{', $theme_json->get_stylesheet( array( 'styles' ) ) );
@@ -1022,6 +1026,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_ignores_non_whitelisted_pseudo_selectors() {
 	 * @ticket 58550
 	 * @ticket 60936
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_stylesheet_handles_priority_of_elements_vs_block_elements_pseudo_selectors() {
 		$theme_json = new WP_Theme_JSON(
@@ -1060,7 +1065,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_handles_priority_of_elements_vs_block_elemen
 			)
 		);
 
-		$expected = ':root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){background-color: red;color: green;}:root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: green;color: red;}:root :where(.wp-block-group a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: black;color: yellow;}';
+		$expected = 'a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){background-color: red;color: green;}:root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: green;color: red;}:root :where(.wp-block-group a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)):hover){background-color: black;color: yellow;}';
 
 		$this->assertSame( $expected, $theme_json->get_stylesheet( array( 'styles' ), null, array( 'skip_root_layout_styles' => true ) ) );
 	}
@@ -1359,6 +1364,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_custom_root_selector() {
 	 *
 	 * @ticket 61118
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_stylesheet_generates_fluid_typography_values() {
 		register_block_type(
@@ -1413,7 +1419,7 @@ public function test_get_stylesheet_generates_fluid_typography_values() {
 		unregister_block_type( 'test/clamp-me' );
 
 		$this->assertSame(
-			':root{--wp--preset--font-size--pickles: clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.156), 16px);--wp--preset--font-size--toast: clamp(14.642px, 0.915rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.575), 22px);}:root :where(body){font-size: clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.156), 1em);}:root :where(h1){font-size: clamp(50.171px, 3.136rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 3.893), 100px);}:root :where(.wp-block-test-clamp-me){font-size: clamp(27.894px, 1.743rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.571), 48px);}.has-pickles-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--pickles) !important;}.has-toast-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--toast) !important;}',
+			':root{--wp--preset--font-size--pickles: clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.156), 16px);--wp--preset--font-size--toast: clamp(14.642px, 0.915rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.575), 22px);}:root :where(body){font-size: clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.156), 1em);}h1{font-size: clamp(50.171px, 3.136rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 3.893), 100px);}:root :where(.wp-block-test-clamp-me){font-size: clamp(27.894px, 1.743rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.571), 48px);}.has-pickles-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--pickles) !important;}.has-toast-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--toast) !important;}',
 			$theme_json->get_stylesheet( array( 'styles', 'variables', 'presets' ), null, array( 'skip_root_layout_styles' => true ) )
 		);
 	}
@@ -4946,6 +4952,7 @@ public function test_shadow_preset_styles() {
 	 * @ticket 58550
 	 * @ticket 60936
 	 * @ticket 61165
+	 * @ticket 61630
 	 */
 	public function test_get_shadow_styles_for_blocks() {
 		$theme_json = new WP_Theme_JSON(
@@ -4980,7 +4987,7 @@ public function test_get_shadow_styles_for_blocks() {
 		);
 
 		$variable_styles = ':root{--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 5px 5px 0 0 black;}';
-		$element_styles  = ':root :where(a:where(:not(.wp-element-button))){box-shadow: var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){box-shadow: var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);}:root :where(p){box-shadow: var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);}';
+		$element_styles  = 'a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){box-shadow: var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);}:root :where(.wp-element-button, .wp-block-button__link){box-shadow: var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);}:root :where(p){box-shadow: var(--wp--preset--shadow--natural);}';
 		$expected_styles = $variable_styles . $element_styles;
 		$this->assertSame( $expected_styles, $theme_json->get_stylesheet( array( 'styles', 'presets', 'variables' ), null, array( 'skip_root_layout_styles' => true ) ) );
 	}