But in fact, Murkowski finished first on Tuesday, thanks to independents and many Democrats who decided to vote for her. She currently leads Tshibaka by about four points, with many votes still uncounted. That means Murkowski is sure to win in November, since she would likely garner second-choice votes from the few moderates and liberals not already on her side.

This result shows the limited appeal of pure Trumpism. Alaska is no one’s idea of a moderate state. It regularly sends Republicans to the House and Senate and hasn’t been carried by a Democrat for president since 1964. But a clear majority of Alaskans prefer someone who at least is open to dealing with the other party than a conservative ideologue.

This is likely true elsewhere, but it is obscured by the artificial forced choice between extremes that most states’ voting systems create. Partisan primaries allow only the winner to carry the party’s label into the general election. This forces moderates in both parties to decide whether the ideologue nominated by their party is so bad that they must abandon ship. Most reluctantly stay with their party because even an extreme choice within their camp is preferable to someone from the other side, especially when that person is also an extremist. That’s why progressive “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is a lock for reelection despite barely winning renomination in her primary last week; moderate Democrats will hold their nose and vote for her rather than elect the conservative Republican on the ballot.