From the Wash. Post:

An Alaska Survey Research poll found that ranked-choice voting could help incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in the race against Trump-backed challenger Kelly Tshibaka.

Alaska will conduct a nonpartisan primary on Aug. 16 with the top four candidates moving onto a ranked-choice general election on Nov. 8. The ASR poll presented a scenario in which four candidates — Murkowski, Tshibaka and Democrat Pat Chesbro and independent candidate Dustin Darden — advance from this primary to the general election. The poll asked voters to list who their first, second and third choice for the Senate would be.

The poll found Tshibaka leading during the first round as the voters’ top choice, ahead of Murkowski 43 percent to 35 percent. The two other candidates on the race would trail them by at least 18 percent, with Darden out of contention on that round.

In the second round, Tshibaka would still lead Murkowski by nine points and Chesbro would be out of the race at 20 percent.

On the third matchup, Murkowski would get the support that the two other candidates received, moving her ahead of Tshibaka by four points — 52 percent to 48 percent.

The poll suggests Murkowski could win reelection with the backing of Democratic and independent voters in Alaska.

Tshibaka, who secured former president Donald Trump’s endorsement in November, has already proved divisive even within the GOP. In December, she said she would not support Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), echoing Trump’s own attacks on McConnell.

Trump is scheduled to hold a rally for Tshibaka and other Republicans in Alaska on Saturday.