I don't think Virginia Democrats picking a Democrat is odd.
Virginia has a longstanding pattern of electing governors from the party opposite the sitting U.S. president in most off-year cycles since 1977 (with 2013 as the exception). Democrats usually win Virginia gubernatorial races.
Spanberger's 2025 success fits right in, driven by backlash to federal workforce cuts under President Trump. Since Virginia is home to approximately 144,000 federal civilian employees based on their official duty stations, and those folks have families and friends who vote, indicating that this was not a vote for Spanberger as much as it was a protest vote against federal reductions in force.
I don't think New Jersey Democrats picking a Democrat is odd.
At the state level, Democrats have controlled the governorship for most of the past two decades (since 2002, except 2010–2018 under Republican Chris Christie) and hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers as of 2025. Gubernatorial wins by Democrats (like Phil Murphy in 2017 and 2021) and consistent U.S. Senate victories for Democrats (Cory Booker, Bob Menendez before his resignation) are the norm, reflecting the state's blue lean in voter registration (about 1 million more Democrats than Republicans) and urban/suburban demographics. Republican wins are the exceptions.
I don't think foreign-born New Yorkers picking another foreign-born New Yorker is a seismic shift, either.
I do find it interesting.
Enforcing existing immigration laws across the nation is of paramount importance.
Democrats oppose enforcing existing immigration law at every turn.
If you didn't understand why before, you do now.