Virginia always finishes counting in the most densely populated blue counties around DC. Historically, you can have 95% of the vote in, with a 6-point red margin, and still lose in the end. I've watched it happen many times, and it makes red virginians feel pretty hopeless.
Everyone needs to remember that the RNC is/was deep state. I can absolutely believe that they would not give their endorsement on Trump without installing one of 'their own'.
We had a theory that Trump was keeping Pence close, same with Kushner, for the same reasons. That theory still makes the most sense to me. Patriot team could have flipped Pence to get him to cooperate, we don't know how things changed after POTUS took office.
I can imagine a meeting with POTUS and Q team where they sit Pence down and say "guess what, Mike…"