Heading into Aug. 11’s primary elections in a pair of Upper Midwest states, the conventional wisdom led many observers to expect certain outcomes.

In Wisconsin, socialist Francesca Hong was running away with the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, we were told, with multiple polls showing her in a dominant position.

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In Minnesota, pillow magnate Mike Lindell received the coveted endorsement of President Donald Trump, which has almost always been decisive, though less so lately, to become the GOP’s nominee for governor.

A huge lead for Hong, and the president’s thumbs-up for Lindell. Ballgame.

But then a funny thing happened on the way to those would-be coronations: Voters showed up and had different ideas. Hong and Lindell went 0-for-2. Pragmatism won the day.

Hong’s nomination was seen as a fait accompli, even as her long history of wacky and destructive ideas was broadcast far and wide across social media.

The final batch of public opinion surveys pegged her lead over the rest of the shambolic field at anywhere between 18 and 29 percentage points. The respected Marquette University poll, often cited as Wisconsin’s “gold standard,” projected a 22-point victory for Hong.

In fairness, this survey measured her support at 38%, which was well ahead of........

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