This is an old GOPe trick. Have multiple "conservative" candidates (both real and pretend) to dilute the vote so the RINO gets in.
The fact that Linstrom lost is a huge relief. I was worried that the conservative votes would be split and he would come out the winner. The press had praised him as the "moderate" who was actively seeking Democrats and Independents to vote in the Republican primary. That would have been a huge defeat for MAGA if Lindstrom had won.
Thanks for that explanation. Let’s hope Pillen wins the general election. I hope Trump will support him in that.