Well, it is a historical pattern. But Virginia is still a swing state (arguably the swing state, having come so close to the national margin in 2008) and New Jersey you have a "clean" Republican running against a "corrupt" Democrat, so it's more due to local issues than national macro trends.
Losing both races is not a historical pattern.
Well, the historical pattern so far is:
2005 -> Both go Democratic; GOP President in office.
2001 -> Both go Democratic; GOP President in office.
1997 -> Both go Republican; Dem President in office.
1993 -> Both go Republican; Dem President in office.
1989 -> Both go Democratic; GOP President in office.
It breaks down in 1985, of course, with Reagan (R)/Kean (R-NJ). Virginia has elected a Governor of the party opposite the President since 1973, when it was Nixon (R)/Godwin (R-VA).
