james e. "trey" trainor iii is an american lawyer and government official. currently a lawyer at the trainor law firm, pc, he has been nominated by president donald trump to become a commissioner of the federal election commission. trainor previously served as a special assistant to united states secretary of defense james mattis, as general counsel to the secretary of state of texas, and as counsel to the texas house committee on regulated industries. trainor's legal practice specializes in election law, campaign finance, and ethics.