Seth Masket — The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party from Republican Leaders - with Hans Noel

Seth Masket, a political scientist and author, discusses his new book *The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party from Republican Leaders* in conversation with Hans Noel, a Georgetown University professor. Masket's book examines the Republican Party's decision to nominate Donald Trump for a third time in 2024, drawing on surveys and interviews with local Republican leaders from 2021 to 2024. He argues that a passionate core of voters, rather than party leaders, drove the nomination, and explores how the party changed before and during the Trump era. The event is free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: Monday, August 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM

Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Tickets: Free admission; no ticket required. Seating is first come, first served.

Description: Seth Masket, a professor of political science at the University of Denver and author of *Learning from Loss*, presents his latest book. The event features a conversation with Hans Noel, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University and co-author of *The Party Decides*. The discussion will cover how the Republican Party's transformation began before Trump and how voters, not leaders, now control key decisions.

Book: *The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party from Republican Leaders* (hardcover, $27.95, ISBN 9781009601139, published June 18, 2026) will be available for purchase at the event.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or inquire about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com ideally one week in advance of the event date. All requests will be accommodated up until the event time.