which is why some candidates that win a primary might perform worse in a general election than the person they beat.

even if a really liberal/progressive democrat wins the traditional blue electoral college states and gets the victory (the math is in their favor)...they could cost dems important senate and other down ballot races in moderate/conservative districts/states.

repubs did a really good job of falling in line and voting through less extreme candidates this past cycle. even bannon and tea party incumbents were urging people to vote for mainstream repubs and rinos just to make sure repubs won those elections (they would support trumps agenda regardless). they saved themselves from some disappointments in ms, mo, in, etc.

the democratic base has yet to mature to the same level of party discipline and vote strategically in the same way. we are still on some 'vote with your heart/conscience' shit. we still havent fully grasped the idea that you have to first attain power to exert power.