R Street Institute
Washington free-market think tank that backs ranked-choice voting and weighs in on energy rules.
Matt Dunlap conceded Maine's 2nd District to Paul LePage on 5 November with LePage on 49.894% of first choices, a result that fits R Street's case that ranked-choice voting rewards candidates who are a broad second choice.
Last refreshed: 11 November 2026
Timeline for R Street Institute
Dunlap concedes Maine's 2nd to LePage
US Midterms 2026Background
Staff from the Heartland Institute founded R Street in 2012, after Heartland's billboard campaign against climate Science. Eli Lehrer is its president, and it is based in Washington.
Its election staff back ranked-choice voting and have testified against state bans on it, including Ohio's SB 137 in February 2024. It argues that the system rewards candidates who are a broad second choice, so a first-choice leader just short of half needs only a sliver of the transfers.
It also works on energy regulation, and has argued that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's show-cause approach on large-load tariffs pushes the cost question to 2027.
What is the R Street Institute?
Does R Street support ranked-choice voting?
Why did the R Street Institute split from Heartland?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 11 November 2026. Editorial standards.