Trey Trainor
Trey Trainor (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 21st Congressional District. He lost in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.
Trainor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Trainor received a bachelor’s degree and J.D. from Texas A&M University.[1] He previously served in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked as general counsel for the Texas Secretary of State and Republican Party of Texas.[1] He served as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission from 2020 to 2025.[2] His career experience includes working as a lawyer.[1]
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the March 3, 2026, Republican primary for Texas' 21st Congressional District as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Mark Teixeira (R) defeated Jason Cahill (R), Trey Trainor (R) and nine other candidates in the Republican primary for Texas' 21st Congressional District on March 3, 2026. Teixeira and Trainor led in media attention and endorsements.
Incumbent Chip Roy (R) ran in the Republican primary for Texas Attorney General in 2026. For a list of U.S. Representatives who are not running for re-election in 2026, click here. The last time this district was open was 2018, when Roy was first elected.
According to Marijke Friedman of The Texas Tribune, "Both Roy and [President Donald] Trump won handily in the 21st District in 2024, and the seat remained solidly Republican under the new congressional map approved by the Texas Legislature."[3] As of October 2025, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball each rated the general election Safe/Solid Republican.
Teixeira was a former professional baseball player and World Series champion at the time of the election.[4][5] Teixeira said he would support the military, end American involvement in long-term conflicts, and prioritize American interests to "champion President Trump’s America First agenda."[6] Teixeira said he would support law enforcement and border security to promote local and national safety.[6] He said he would cut federal spending and promote Texas’ oil, gas, and nuclear industries to improve the economy.[6] Teixeira also said he would "restore patriotic education rooted in American and Texas values."[6] Trump, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) endorsed Teixeira.[7]
At the time of the election, Trainor was a lawyer who previously worked as general counsel for the Texas Secretary of State and the Republican Party of Texas.[1] He also served as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) from 2020 to 2025.[8] Trainor said his legislative priorities would be improving border security, reducing federal spending, and upholding Constitutional rights.[1] Trainor campaigned on his legal experience, saying he had "been on the front lines defending the Constitution" throughout his career.[1] He also campaigned on his experience on the FEC, saying he had a history of promoting election security.[1] Highlighting Trump appointing him to the FEC, Trainor said he supported Trump’s policies and described himself as a "soldier of the conservative cause and the America First agenda."[1] Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian (R) and former chair of the Republican Party of Texas Cathie Adams (R) endorsed Trainor.[9]
Also running in the primary were Daniel Betts (R), Cahill, Jacques DuBose (R), Ezekiel Enriquez (R), Denis Goulet (R), Weston Martinez (R), Matt Okerson (R), Paul Rojas (R), Heather Tessmer (R), Peggy Wardlaw (R), and Mike Wheeler (R).
Texas conducted redistricting between the 2024 and 2026 elections. As a result, district lines in this state changed. To review how redistricting took place in Texas, click here. For a list of all states that drew new district lines between 2024 and 2026, click here.
Elections
2026
See also: Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026
Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
Texas' 21st Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Texas District 21
Kristin Hook, Mark Teixeira, and Dan McQueen are running in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 21 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Kristin Hook (D)  | |
 | Mark Teixeira (R) | |
 | Dan McQueen (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
Kristin Hook defeated Regina Vanburg and Gary Taylor in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Hook | 60.4 | 35,413 |
 | Regina Vanburg | 27.7 | 16,261 | |
 | Gary Taylor | 11.9 | 6,963 | |
| Total votes: 58,637 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Daniel Weber (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 21 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Teixeira | 62.6 | 52,280 |
 | Jason Cahill | 9.9 | 8,245 | |
 | Trey Trainor | 8.3 | 6,976 | |
 | Mike Wheeler | 7.0 | 5,888 | |
 | Weston Martinez | 2.1 | 1,758 | |
 | Daniel Betts | 1.9 | 1,550 | |
 | Kyle Sinclair (Unofficially withdrew) | 1.7 | 1,394 | |
 | Peggy Wardlaw | 1.6 | 1,373 | |
 | Heather Tessmer | 1.5 | 1,244 | |
 | Paul Rojas | 1.4 | 1,179 | |
 | Ezekiel Enriquez | 1.3 | 1,088 | |
 | Jacques DuBose | 0.7 | 571 | |
| Total votes: 83,546 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Denis Goulet (R)
- Jessica Karlsruher (R)
- Chip Roy (R)
- Matt Okerson (R)
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
We provide results for polls from a wide variety of sources, including media outlets, social media, campaigns, and aggregation websites, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.
Election campaign finance
Candidate spending
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Betts | Republican Party | $170,920 | $84,775 | $86,145 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Jason Cahill | Republican Party | $348,702 | $291,977 | $56,725 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Jacques DuBose | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Ezekiel Enriquez | Republican Party | $104,653 | $100,595 | $-314 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Weston Martinez | Republican Party | $19,907 | $14,126 | $5,780 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Paul Rojas | Republican Party | $165,026 | $8,165 | $156,862 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Kyle Sinclair | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Mark Teixeira | Republican Party | $3,466,723 | $2,459,293 | $1,007,430 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Heather Tessmer | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Trey Trainor | Republican Party | $139,666 | $63,349 | $76,317 | As of February 11, 2026 |
| Peggy Wardlaw | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
| Mike Wheeler | Republican Party | $345,601 | $262,247 | $83,354 | As of February 11, 2026 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[10][11][12]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
| By candidate | By election |
|---|---|
Endorsements
Trainor received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Trainor's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian (R)
- Former Republican Party of Texas Chair Cathie Adams
- Texas Right to Life
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Trey Trainor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Trainor's responses.
| Collapse all
- I’m a trusted ally of President Donald Trump, committed to advancing his America First agenda. As former FEC Chair appointed by Trump, I fought to defended free speech, and upheld constitutional values. In Congress, I’ll secure our borders, protect the unborn, and defend Second Amendment rights, just as I did advising Trump’s campaign. I’ll cut wasteful spending, oppose radical agendas, and restore our Republic’s founding principles. With a proven record of standing with Trump against the swamp, I’m ready to represent TX-21’s patriots. Join me at trey4tx.com to keep Texas strong and free, backing Trump’s vision for a prosperous, secure America!
- I’m a proven conservative for Texas, with a record as legal counsel to the Republican Party of Texas and representing grassroots organizations in court and at the Texas Legislature. I’ve fought for election integrity, defended pro-life causes, and protected Second Amendment rights. As former FEC Chair, I battled government overreach and upheld constitutional freedoms. In Congress, I’ll secure borders, cut wasteful spending, and champion TX-21’s values. My decades of advocacy for conservative principles make me the trusted voice to represent our district.
- I’m ready to serve the people of District 21 in Congress on day one, with a proven record of fighting bureaucracy in Washington. As former FEC Chair under President Trump, I battled election fraud, defended free speech, and took on the swamp. My experience as legal counsel in Texas and Washington equips me to deliver results—securing borders, protecting the unborn, and defending Second Amendment rights. I’ve spent years challenging government overreach, ensuring conservative values prevail. TX-21 deserves a leader who’s battle-tested and ready to act.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Trainor's campaign website stated the following:
A Trusted Ally of President Donald J. Trump — Proven Conservative for Texas
James “Trey” Trainor, III is a proud Texan, born in Odessa and raised with the values of faith, family, and service. A graduate of Texas A&M and member of the Corps of Cadets, Trey also served in the U.S. Army Reserves before earning his law degree at Texas A&M University School of Law.
For more than two decades, Trey has been on the front lines defending the Constitution, protecting election integrity, and advancing conservative principles. He has built a respected legal career in election law and constitutional issues, serving candidates, campaigns, and causes across Texas. Trey’s leadership earned him the role of General Counsel to the Republican Party of Texas and made him a trusted strategist for Republican victories statewide.
Trey’s service extends from Austin to Washington. He served as General Counsel to the Texas Secretary of State and later played a critical role on Governor Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign. In 2016, Donald Trump tapped Trey to serve as Counsel to the Platform Committee at the Republican National Convention. After Trump’s victory, Trey was sworn in at the Department of Defense, and in 2020 President Trump appointed him to the Federal Election Commission, where he twice served as Chairman. At the FEC, Trey fought to defend free political speech, strengthen transparency, and represented the U.S. abroad as an election observer.
Despite his national experience, Trey has remained grounded in Texas grassroots activism—training poll watchers, advising Republican clubs, and working alongside the RPT’s Election Integrity Committee. He has never stopped fighting to secure our elections and protect the voice of the people.
With Trey’s vast experience in the Trump Administration and a lifetime of service, he will be ready to serve the people of CD 21 in Congress on day one. He is a tried and tested loyal foot soldier of the conservative cause and the America First Agenda. He will work to secure the border, rein in wasteful spending, defend our liberties, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump to put America First.
At home in Driftwood, Trey and his wife Lucy have been married for 23 years and are raising six children. Guided by faith, committed to family, and devoted to Texas, Trey Trainor is a proven conservative who delivers results—and he’s ready to fight for Texas in Congress.
— Trey Trainor's campaign website (November 20, 2025)
Campaign ads
Ballotpedia did not come across any campaign ads for Trey Trainor while conducting research on this election. If you are aware of any ads that should be included, please email us.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Trey Trainor 2026 campaign website, "About Trey," accessed October 27, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "trainor" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas GOP lawyer and former FEC chair Trey Trainor announces run for Chip Roy’s seat in Congress," October 6, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Former MLB player Mark Teixeira announces run for 21st Congressional District," August 28, 2025
- ↑ ESPN, "Mark Teixeira biography," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Issues," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Mark Teixeira 2026 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas GOP lawyer and former FEC chair Trey Trainor announces run for Chip Roy’s seat in Congress," October 6, 2025
- ↑ Trey Trainor 2026 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
