Virginia Democrats Could Gain Seats After High Court Ruling (1)

The U.S. Supreme Court handed Virginia Republicans what could be a costly defeat ahead of the state’s off-year elections in November.

In a 5-4 decision along unusual lines, the justices refused to disturb a lower court ruling finding that the state’s Republicans had unconstitutionally harmed minority voters while drawing voting districts for the House of Delegates.

The justices ruled that the Virginia House of Delegates, led by Republicans, doesn’t have the authority to pursue an appeal after the state declined to do so. They, therefore, threw out the appeal.

Primary elections under a new court-drawn map took place June 11, ...