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James E. Trainor III
James Edwin "Trey" Trainor III is an American Republican lawyer and government official. He is a former member of the Federal Election Commission. He was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. He served as chair of the commission in 2020 and again in 2025. He was a candidate for the 2026 election in Texas's 21st congressional district.
Trainor was admitted to the bar in Texas in 2003. He is board certified in legislative and campaign law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2024. His practice primarily focuses on election law, campaign finance, and ethics. He has been a partner at the Dhillon Law Group, Inc. since October 2025. Previously he was a partner at Akerman LLP's Austin office and with the Houston based firm of Beirne, Maynard, & Parsons, LLP. He has long supported reduced regulation of money in politics, and represented the right-wing advocacy group Empower Texans in lengthy disputes with the Texas Ethics Commission over whether the group was obligated to disclose its donors.
Trainor served as chief of staff to then-State Representative Phil King from 1999 to 2003. In 2003, when Representative King was appointed Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee for the Texas House of Representatives, Trainor served as chief clerk and counsel to the committee.
In July 2005, Trainor departed King’s staff to serve as General Counsel for the Office of the Texas Secretary of State under then-Secretary Roger Williams. In that role, he helped oversee the operation of the agency and assisted in the representation of the agency, in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General, in all civil and criminal actions brought by or against it. During his tenure, Trainor was appointed by Secretary Williams to serve as the statewide Republican member representing Texas on the Standards Advisory Board to the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission. He was also actively involved in several major cases, including Texas Democratic Party, et al. v. Tina J. Benkiser, Strayhorn v. Williams, and the LULAC v. Perry redistricting litigation. In July 2006, He was appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas to the Task Force on Jury Assembly and Administration, which proposed major reforms to Texas’s jury assembly and administration system.
Trainor returned to Representative King’s staff on the Regulated Industries Committee in 2006 and continued there until 2008, when he left public service to enter private law practice.
During the 2012 Republican primaries, Trainor was counsel for the presidential campaign of Texas Governor Rick Perry. In the 2016 Republican primaries, Trainor initially supported Ted Cruz, but later worked for Donald Trump. As general counsel to the 2016 Republican National Convention platform committee, Trainor led the party's efforts to stymie last-ditch Never Trump efforts from anti-Trump Republican convention delegates. In 2017, Trainor was appointed assistant general counsel to the Texas Republican Party; newly elected party chairman James Dickey named him to the post. Trainor was also general counsel to the Secretary of State of Texas.
After Trump became president, Trainor joined his administration as special assistant to Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
On September 14, 2017, Trump nominated Trainor to be a member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023. Trainor's nomination languished in the Republican-controlled Senate for years, with Trump re-nominating him twice (in 2019 and 2020). During his FEC confirmation hearing, he received strong support from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz , who praised his “immense experience” in election law, his service as General Counsel to the Texas Secretary of State, and his deep commitment to the rule of law, stating that Trainor’s confirmation would strengthen the Commission with “an individual of the utmost character and experience.” During his hearing he refused to recuse himself from matters related to the Trump campaign.
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James E. Trainor III
James Edwin "Trey" Trainor III is an American Republican lawyer and government official. He is a former member of the Federal Election Commission. He was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. He served as chair of the commission in 2020 and again in 2025. He was a candidate for the 2026 election in Texas's 21st congressional district.
Trainor was admitted to the bar in Texas in 2003. He is board certified in legislative and campaign law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2024. His practice primarily focuses on election law, campaign finance, and ethics. He has been a partner at the Dhillon Law Group, Inc. since October 2025. Previously he was a partner at Akerman LLP's Austin office and with the Houston based firm of Beirne, Maynard, & Parsons, LLP. He has long supported reduced regulation of money in politics, and represented the right-wing advocacy group Empower Texans in lengthy disputes with the Texas Ethics Commission over whether the group was obligated to disclose its donors.
Trainor served as chief of staff to then-State Representative Phil King from 1999 to 2003. In 2003, when Representative King was appointed Chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee for the Texas House of Representatives, Trainor served as chief clerk and counsel to the committee.
In July 2005, Trainor departed King’s staff to serve as General Counsel for the Office of the Texas Secretary of State under then-Secretary Roger Williams. In that role, he helped oversee the operation of the agency and assisted in the representation of the agency, in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General, in all civil and criminal actions brought by or against it. During his tenure, Trainor was appointed by Secretary Williams to serve as the statewide Republican member representing Texas on the Standards Advisory Board to the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission. He was also actively involved in several major cases, including Texas Democratic Party, et al. v. Tina J. Benkiser, Strayhorn v. Williams, and the LULAC v. Perry redistricting litigation. In July 2006, He was appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas to the Task Force on Jury Assembly and Administration, which proposed major reforms to Texas’s jury assembly and administration system.
Trainor returned to Representative King’s staff on the Regulated Industries Committee in 2006 and continued there until 2008, when he left public service to enter private law practice.
During the 2012 Republican primaries, Trainor was counsel for the presidential campaign of Texas Governor Rick Perry. In the 2016 Republican primaries, Trainor initially supported Ted Cruz, but later worked for Donald Trump. As general counsel to the 2016 Republican National Convention platform committee, Trainor led the party's efforts to stymie last-ditch Never Trump efforts from anti-Trump Republican convention delegates. In 2017, Trainor was appointed assistant general counsel to the Texas Republican Party; newly elected party chairman James Dickey named him to the post. Trainor was also general counsel to the Secretary of State of Texas.
After Trump became president, Trainor joined his administration as special assistant to Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
On September 14, 2017, Trump nominated Trainor to be a member of the Federal Election Commission for a term expiring April 30, 2023. Trainor's nomination languished in the Republican-controlled Senate for years, with Trump re-nominating him twice (in 2019 and 2020). During his FEC confirmation hearing, he received strong support from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz , who praised his “immense experience” in election law, his service as General Counsel to the Texas Secretary of State, and his deep commitment to the rule of law, stating that Trainor’s confirmation would strengthen the Commission with “an individual of the utmost character and experience.” During his hearing he refused to recuse himself from matters related to the Trump campaign.