James E. "Trey" Trainor III
Biography
James E. "Trey" Trainor III was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 19, 2020. He was appointed to a term ending April 30, 2023.
Commissioner Trainor, of Driftwood, Texas, has practiced law for two decades, particularly in the areas of election law, campaign finance law and ethics. He has served as General Counsel to the Texas Secretary of State and Counsel to the Texas House Committee on Regulated Industries, and has represented the Texas Republican Party and two presidential campaigns. Commissioner Trainor has also served on the Advisory Board of the United States Election Assistance Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, Commissioner Trainor was a partner at Akerman, LLP, and had his own private practice.
Commissioner Trainor graduated from Texas A&M University (Corps of Cadets member) in 1997. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Reserves in 2000 and earned his law degree from Texas A&M University School of Law in 2002.
Statements and opinions
Advisory Opinions
- Statement on Advisory Opinion 2024-08 (Representative Bob Good and Good for Congress), July 25, 2024
- Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-09 (Senator Catherine Cortez Masto), January 11, 2024
- Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-08 (Cowboy Analytics), December 14, 2023
- Concurring Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-03 (Colorado Republican State Central Committee), May 4, 2023
Audits
- Statement on Final Audit of Madison Project, Inc., May 1, 2024
Enforcement
- MUR 7892, Turning Point Action, et al., October 30, 2024
- MUR 8100, Singh for Senate and Hirsh Singh in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., September 16, 2024
- MUR 7800, Kanye 2020, et al., September 10, 2024
- MUR 8144, Keith Gross for Florida, et al., September 9, 2024
- MUR 8123/8182, Biden for President, et al., September 6, 2024
- MURs 8016 and 8018, Jarome Bell for Congress, et al., August 19, 2024
- MUR 8149, Tim Sheehy for Montana et al., August 7, 2024
- MURs 8215 & 8216, Last Best Place PAC and David M. Lewis in his official capacity as treasurer, August 6, 2024
- MUR 8167, Detroit Int'l Bridge Co., et al., August 6, 2024
- MUR 8110, Amer. Coal. for Conservative Politics, et al., July 29, 2024
- MUR 7773, Eugene DePasquale, et al., May 30, 2024
- MUR 7833, Montcalm, LLC, et al., May 2, 2024
- MUR 7833, Montcalm, LLC, et al., May 1, 2024
- MUR 8017/8023, Unknown Respondents, April 22, 2024
- MUR 8071, NRSC, April 10, 2024
- MUR 8071, NRSC and Keith Davis in his official capacity as treasurer, April 9, 2024
- MUR 8082, Unknown Respondents, et al., April 8, 2024
- MUR 7772/8204, Salvemos a Puerto Rico and Joseph Fuentes-Fernandez in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., February 26, 2024
- MUR 7537, Care in Action, Inc., February 7, 2024
- MUR 8044, Taddeo for Congress, et al., January 17, 2024
- MUR 7908, Marjorie Taylor Greene, et al., December 28, 2023
- MURs 7931/8059, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., et al., and 7968/7969, Donald J. Trump, et al., October 6, 2023
- MUR 8062, Andrew Garbarino, et al., September 13, 2023
- MUR 7938, Greitens for US Senate and Eric Greitens in his official capacity as treasurer, Greitens for Missouri, and Eric R. Greitens, August 18, 2023
- MUR 8056, Bob Healey for Congress, et al., August 17, 2023
- MUR 7897, Ted Cruz for Senate, et al., August 14, 2023
- MUR 7964, White Coat Waste PAC and Janna Rutland as treasurer, White Coat Waste Project, Inc., Anthony Bellotti, and Justin Goodman, July 27, 2023
- MUR 7943, Common Good Virginia and Lillie Louise Lucas as treasurer, Val Demings for U.S. Senate and Lauren Decot Lee as treasurer, and Val Demings, July 27, 2023
- MUR 7957, Marie Newman, et al., July 21, 2023
- MUR 7724 and 7752, Johnny Teague for Congress, et al., July 20, 2023
- MUR 7464, LZP, LLC and Independence and Freedom Network, Inc., July 7, 2023
- MUR 7464, Honor and Principles PAC and Lisa Lisker, in her official capacity as treasurer, July 5, 2023
- MURs 7722 and 7723, Michael R. Bloomberg, Mike Bloomberg 2020, Inc. and Hayden Horowitz as treasurer, DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor as treasurer, and Unknown State Party Committees, July 5, 2023
- MUR 8038, Angel Staffing, Inc, et al., July 3, 2023
- MUR 7987, Phil Rizzo for Congress, et al., May 31, 2023
- MUR 7874, Patriots for America, et al., March 14, 2023
- MURs 7668, 7689, and 7685, Bloomberg News, et al., March 7, 2023
- MUR 8011, Daniel Defense, et al., March 1, 2023
- MUR 7912, Senate Leadership Fund, et al., March 1, 2023
- MUR 7760, SMP and Rebecca Lambe in her official capacity as treasurer, February 27, 2023
- MUR 7951/8003, Kistner for Congress, et al., February 23, 2023
- MUR 7585/7588, Lori Trahan, et al., February 22, 2023
- MUR 7889, SIG SAUER, Inc., et al., January 20, 2023
- MUR 7901, Ethan Owens, Angela Fisher, Adam Kokesh American Referendum Project and Angela Thornton in her official capacity as treasurer, Adam Kokesh, and Roger Ver, January 18, 2023
- MUR 7495, Common Defense Action Fund, et al., January 17, 2023
- MUR 7670, Hickenlooper for Colorado, et al., November 1, 2022
- MUR 7491, American Ethane Co., LLC, et al., October 27, 2022
- MUR 7759, William Figlesthaler for Congress and Steven Martin in his official capacity as treasurer, William M. Figlesthaler, Matthew Hurley, Collin Osborne, Rachael Schaaf, Landslyde Media Group, LLC, and Southern Strategies, LLC, September 16, 2022
- MUR 7894, True the Vote, Inc., Catherine Engelbrecht, Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Joseph Brannan in his official capacity as treasurer, and David Shafer, September 13, 2022
- MUR 7904, Hansjorg Wyss, The Wyss Foundation, Berger Action Fund, Inc., New Venture Fund, and Sixteen Thirty Fund, September 7, 2022
- MUR 7879, NRA Victory Fund, Inc., September 7, 2022
- MUR 7581 and 7614, Li Juan "Cindy" Yang a/k/a Li Juan "Cindy" Gong, et al., September 6, 2022
- MURs 7645, 7663, and 7705, Donald J. Trump, et al., August 31, 2022
- MUR 7486, 45Committee, Inc., August 30, 2022
- MUR 7320, Libertarian Party of Miami-Dade, et al., August 30, 2022
- MUR 7917, Derrick Van Orden and Van Orden for Congress and Mary Clancy in her official capacity as treasurer, July 28, 2022
- MUR 7907, Nebraska Democratic Party and Ted Kessler in his official capacity as treasurer, July 28, 2022
- MURs 7826 & 7862, Iowa Democratic Party and Ken Sagar in his official capacity as treasurer, Theresa Greenfield and Theresa Kehoe in her official capacity as treasurer, and Rita Hart for Iowa and Sheila Spickermann in her official capacity as treasurer, July 28, 2022
- MUR 7790, John James, John James for Senate and Timothy Caughlin in his official capacity as treasurer, July 21, 2022
- MUR 7770, Singh for Senate and Elizabeth Curtis in her official capacity as treasurer, Hirsh Singh, Shore News Network, Paul Stilton, and Recall Murphy/Conservative NJ, July 13, 2022
- MUR 7310, Mark Takai for Congress and Dylan Beesley in his official capacity as treasurer, Dylan Beesley, and Lanakila Strategies, LLC, July 5, 2022
- MUR 7442, Global Energy Producers, LLC, et al., June 29, 2022
- MUR 7864, Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, Salt River Valley Water Users' Association Political Involvement Committee and Heidi Rowe Schaefer in her official capacity as treasurer, and Mike Jones, June 14, 2022
- MUR 7784, Make America Great Again f/k/a Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., et al., June 9, 2022
- MUR 7280, Unknown Respondent, June 1, 2022
- MUR 7783, Byron Donalds for Congress and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., May 31, 2022
- MUR 7882, Christy Smith for Congress, et al., May 17, 2022
- MUR 6589R, American Action Network, May 13, 2022
- MURs 6915 and 6927, John Ellis Bush et al., May 13, 2022
- MUR 7726, David Brock, et al., May 13, 2022
- MURs 7672, 7674, and 7732, Iowa Values, Inc., Senator Joni Ernst, Joni for Iowa and Cabell Hobbs in his official capacity as treasurer, and Jobs Opportunity and New Ideas PAC and Cabell Hobbs in his official capacity as treasurer, May 13, 2022
- MUR 7516, Heritage Action for America, May 13, 2022
- Statement of Chairman Allen J. Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III Regarding Concluded Enforcement Matters, May 13, 2022
- MUR 7776, Unknown Respondent, May 11, 2022
- MUR 7700, VoteVets and Rick Hegdahl in his official capacity as treasurer, Win the Era PAC (formerly Pete for America) and Ed Jordanich in his official capacity as treasurer, and Michael Halle, April 29, 2022
- MUR 7591R, MA4Trump and Dianna Ploss, April 22, 2022
- MUR 7717, Theresa Greenfield for Iowa, et al., April 15, 2022
- MUR 7646, 1820 PAC, et al., April 15, 2022
- MUR 7299, Wexton for Congress and Joan Kowalski in her official capacity as treasurer, Wexton for State Senate, and Jennifer Wexton, April 14, 2022
- MURs 7686, 7714, and 7716, John James for Senate, Inc. and Timothy Coughlin in his official capacity as treasurer, John James, Better Future Michigan and Victoria Sachs, April 13, 2022
- MURs 7666 & 7675, Peters for Michigan, et al., and MURs 7681 & 7715, VoteVets, et al., April 12, 2022
- MUR 7781, Fight for the American Dream PAC and Megan Troy in her official capacity as treasurer, April 11, 2022
- MUR 7147, Make Am. Number 1, et al., April 11, 2022
- MUR 7646, 1820 PAC, et al., MURs 7666 & 7675, Peters for Michigan, et al., MURs 7681 & 7715, VoteVets, et al., MUR 7717, Theresa Greenfield for Iowa, et al., and MUR 7781, Fight for the American Dream PAC, April 7, 2022
- MUR 7535, Leah for Senate, et al., March 28, 2022
- MUR 7657 IRL PAC (terminated) and Ed Torgas, in his official capacity as treasurer, South Florida First PAC (f/k/a Ros-Lehtinen for Congress, terminated), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, March 22, 2022
- MURs 7575, 7580, 7592, and 7626, Brand New Congress, et al., March 22, 2022
- MUR 7465, Freedom Vote, Inc., March 7, 2022
- MUR 7425, Donald J. Trump Found., et al., February 22, 2022
- MUR 7890, Service Tire Truck Centers, Inc. and Senate Leadership Fund and Caleb Crosby in his official capacity as treasurer, February 15, 2022
- MUR 7139, Maryland USA and Joel Ritter in his official capacity as treasurer, Mark Epstein, Amie Hoeber, and Amie Hoeber for Congress and Chris Marston in his official capacity as treasurer, February 14, 2022
- MUR 7510, Katie Arrington for Congress and Kathleen Randall in her official capacity as treasurer, Katherine E. Arrington, Fix Our Flooding, Inc., 1st Street Foundation, Inc., and Matthew Eby, January 24, 2022
- MUR 7640, Christine O'Donnell, Friends of Christine O'Donnell and Christopher M. Marston in his official capacity as treasurer, January 13, 2022
- MURs 7427, 7497, 7524, 7553, 7558, 7560, 7621, 7654, and 7660, Nat'l Rifle Ass'n, et al., December 21, 2021
- MUR 7859 and 7860, Citizens for a Working America, et al. and Jobs and Progress Fund, et al., December 17, 2021
- MUR 7605, Chad E. Price, Judson Hill for Congress and Chris D. Clayton in his official capacity as treasurer, December 7, 2021
- MUR 7766, Florida Country, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7632, Susan B. Anthony List Inc. Candidate Fund, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7522, Citizens for Waters, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7747, Rev. Ruben Diaz for Congress, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7635, Joaquin Castro, December 3, 2021
- MUR 7567, Howard Schultz, December 3, 2021
- MURs 7679 and 7695, Jeff Coleman for Congress, Inc., et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7754, Pacific Atlantic Coalition, Pacific Environmental Coalition, SMP and Rebecca Lambe in her official capacity as treasurer, Unite the Country and Michael Morris in his official capacity as treasurer, VoteVets PAC and Rick Hegdahl in his official capacity as treasurer, Tom Van Loben Sels, Melissa Carrig, Matt Cohler, and James P. Joseph, December 1, 2021
- MURs 7207, 7268, 7274, and 7623, Russian Federation, et al., November 22, 2021
- MUR 7652, Nicole Rodden for Congress, Inc. and Paul Kilgore in his official capacity as treasurer, Nicole Rodden, and Robert Rodden, November 18, 2021
- MURs 7530 and 7627, NRCC and Keith A. Davis in his official capacity as treasurer, Balderson for Congress and Matthew J. Yuskewich, in his official capacity as treasurer, Troy Balderson, Rodney for Congress and Thomas Datwyler, in his official capacity as treasurer, Rodney Davis, Friends of Hagedorn and Thomas Datwyler, in his official capacity as treasurer, James Hagedorn, Caludia Tenney for Congress and Cabell Hobbs, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Claudia Tenny, November 8, 2021
- MUR 7528, Yukon Kusko Political Action Committee, and Margaret Pohjola, in her official capacity as treasurer, Calista Corporation, Yulista Holding, LLC; Jennine Jordan, Andrew Guy, and Josh Herren, November 1, 2021
- MUR 7502, Utah Love PAC f/k/a Mia Love , et al., October 29, 2021
- MUR 7330, Mia Love, et al., October 27, 2021
- MUR 7832, Twitter, Inc., October 26, 2021
- MUR 7832, Twitter, Inc., October 26, 2021
- MUR 7742, Twitter, Inc., October 19, 2021
- MUR 7180, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc., et al., October 13. 2021
- MURs 7812, 7825, and 7869, Facebook, Inc. et al., October 13, 2021
- MUR 7807, Snap, Inc., et al, October 13, 2021
- MURs 7443, 7447, and 7550, Twitter, Inc. et al., October 13, 2021
- MUR 7753, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Inc., Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Tara Paone in her official capacity as treasurer, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBeth, and Friends of Lucy McBeth Inc.and Kendra-Sue Derby in her official capacity as treasurer, October 8, 2021
- MUR 7513, Community Issues Project, October 7, 2021
- MUR 7512, Pembina Pipeline Corporation, et al., September 28, 2021
- MUR 7220, Make America Great Again PAC f/k/a Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer; Donald J. Trump; Trump Make America Great Again Committee and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, September 21, 2021
- MUR 7683, Our Revolution and Bernard Sanders, September 21, 2021
- MUR 7383, Hughes for Congress and Dave Hughes in his official capacity as treasurer, September 21, 2021
- MURs 7821, 7827, and 7868, Twitter, Inc., et al., September 13, 2021
- MUR 6992, Donald Trump et al., August 31, 2021
- MUR 7507, Aftab Pureval, Aftab for Ohio and Evan Nolan in his official capacity as treasurer, Friends of Aftab Pureval, and Drenko Pureval, August 27, 2021
- MUR 7125, Debbie Wasserman Schultz for Congress and Lawrence Wasserman in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., August 24, 2021
- MUR 7354, Friends of Chris McDaniel and Richard Conrad in his official capacity as treasurer, Chris McDaniel, Remember Mississippi and Tommy Barnett in his official capacity as treasurer, August 3, 2021
- MURs 7370 and 7496, New Republican PAC, et al., July 21, 2021
- MUR 7413, Jonathan Jenkins, Jonathan Jenkins for Senate and Chris Ehlinger in his official capacity as treasurer, and Indie Party, Co., July 14, 2021
- MUR 7501, Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate and Peggy Gagnon in her official capacity as treasurer, and Democratic Executive Committee of Florida and Fran Garcia in her official capacity as treasurer, June 28, 2021
- MURs 7324, 7332, 7364, and 7366, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, Donald J. Trump, American Media, Inc., David J. Pecker, Dylan Howard, Michael D. Cohen, and Timothy Jost, June 28, 2021
- MUR 7271, Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer, Alexandra Chalupa, and Chalupa & Associates, LLC, June 10, 2021
- MUR 7271, Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer, Alexandra Chalupa, and Chalupa & Associates, LLC, June 10, 2021
- MURs 7640 (Fair People for Fair Government) and 7536/7551 (Coalition for a Safe Secure America), May 28, 2021
- MURs 7640 (Fair People for Fair Government) and 7536/7551 (Coalition for a Safe Secure America), May 26, 2021
- MUR 7696, Texans for Senator John Cornyn, et al., May 18, 2021
- MURs 7265 and 7266, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, Donald Trump, Jr., Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, and Rob Goldstone, May 10, 2021
- MUR 7181, Independent Women's Voice, May 10, 2021
- MUR 7347, End Citizens United and Deanna Nesburg in her official capacity as treasurer, April 30, 2021
- MURs 6917, 6929 (Governor Scott Walker, Scott Walker, Inc. and Kate Teasdale in her official capacity as treasurer, and Our American Revival and C. Ryan Burchfield in his official capacity as treasurer) and 6955, 6983 (John R. Kasich, Kasich for America, Inc. and J. Matthew Yuskewich in his official capacity as treasurer, and New Day for America and J. Matthew Yusekwich in his official capacity as treasurer, April 29, 2021
- MUR 7395, Heller for Senate and Chrissie Hastie in her official capacity as treasurer, Sen. Dean Heller, and Heller Enterprises, LLC, April 27, 2021
- MUR 7313, 7319, and 7370, Michael Cohen, et al., April 26, 2021
- MUR 7284, AB PAC f/k/a American Bridge 21st Century and Rodell Mollineau in his official capacity as treasurer and Correct the Record and Elizabeth Cohen in her official capacity as treasurer, April 16, 2021
- MUR 7479, H. Russell Taub, Keeping America in Republican Control PAC and H. Russell Taub, in his official capacity as treasurer, April 6, 2021
- MUR 7140, Americans for Sensible Solutions PAC and David Garrett, April 5, 2021
- MUR 7140, Americans for Sensible Solutions PAC and David Garrett, April 2, 2021
- MUR 7243, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, et al., April 1, 2021
- MUR 7181, Independent Women's Voice, March 18, 2021
- MUR 7422, Greitens for Missouri, August 28, 2020
- MUR 7643, America Progress Now, July 28, 2020
- MUR 7594, Enbridge, Inc., July 21, 2020
Statements
- Allen J. Dickerson and James E. "Trey" Trainor, III Regarding Request for Legal Consideration 1193, January 4, 2024
- Statement of Commissioners Allen J. Dickerson and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III Regarding the Commission’s Newly Adopted Directive Concerning Investigations Conducted by the Office of General Counsel, November 2, 2023
- Comments of Commissioner Trey Trainor on Revised Audit Process for Committees that Do Not Receive Public Funds, May 4, 2023
- Statement of Commissioner Trainor regarding the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Justice and the Federal Election Commission, April 19, 2023
- Interpretive Statement of Chairman Allen J. Dickerson and Commissioner James E. "Trey" Trainor, III Regarding Reg 2011-02 (Internet Communication Disclaimers and Definition of "Public Communication"), December 1, 2022
- Statement of Chairman Allen Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III Regarding Freedom of Information Act Litigation, June 28, 2022
- Statement of Chairman Allen J. Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III Regarding Concluded Enforcement Matters, May 13, 2022
- Statement on the Dangers of Procedural Disfunction, August 28, 2020