Another speaker at the Dawn of a Golden Era event was someone whose credibility and convictions in the field of election law are unmatched: Trey Trainor, Vice Chair and acting Chair of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Appointed in 2020 by President Donald Trump, he has served as both commissioner and chairman, and his deep ties to Texas — including his education at Texas A&M and legal defense of Attorney General Ken Paxton — gave his words both local relevance and national weight.
But it wasn’t just his résumé that stood out. It was his unshakable warning: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
Foreign Threats, Domestic Weakness
Trainor began by recalling his time observing elections abroad, including in Costa Rica, where Russian operatives were present, quietly monitoring democratic processes. It was a sobering reminder that the threat to secure elections is not just local or national — it’s global.
Citing the Monroe Doctrine, he reminded us that the Western Hemisphere must not tolerate foreign interference, and yet, it is already knocking at our doors. He referenced Romania, where credible reports of foreign influence led to the cancellation of elections entirely. For those who lived under communism, the danger is not abstract — it’s personal, lived, and understood.
“How Do They Do This, and We Don’t?”
Trainor pointed to the basic safeguards that many other countries use to ensure voter integrity:
-
Paper ballots
-
Voter ID
-
Votes counted at the precinct
-
Ballots that never leave the building
His frustration was palpable: “How do they do this, and we don’t?”
These aren’t partisan demands. They’re common-sense standards. Yet in the U.S., efforts to implement such safeguards are met with resistance — not from the people, but from the entrenched political class and activist-driven legal obstacles.
Enforce the Laws — All of Them
Trainor was blunt in addressing what he sees as a growing strategy by the left: to steal elections by weakening election law enforcement and overwhelming systems with litigation, bureaucracy, and loopholes.
He called on law enforcement and election officials at every level to enforce the laws already on the books — not to look the other way. In his view, secure elections are not a theoretical ideal; they are a legal responsibility. And that responsibility is being neglected.
A Personal Note: Lucy Trainor’s Commitment
This message hit close to home for me — not only because of the issues raised, but because of my ongoing work here in Bexar County. Last year, at the Texas Republican Convention, I met Lucy Trainor, Trey’s wife and a committed member of the State Republican Executive Committee for Senate District 25.
In our conversation, Lucy made a personal commitment to me: to support election integrity in Bexar County and across Texas. I believed her then, and after hearing her husband speak last night, I believe it even more.
They are both on the front lines — and so are we.
Looking Forward with Eyes Open
Trey Trainor’s remarks served as a wake-up call. If free and fair elections are to mean anything in 2024 and beyond, then citizens — not bureaucracies — must lead. We must ask: Why are basic election protections controversial? And more importantly: Why are other nations doing better at protecting the vote than we are?
The answer isn’t capacity. It’s will.
And the will to act begins right here — in precincts, in counties, and in conversations like the one we’re having.
Stay With Me.
One more speakers will be highlighted in the coming days as I continue to share key takeaways from Dawn of a Golden Era 2025. Each message builds toward a simple goal: restoring trust in our elections.
If you believe in that mission, follow this series, share it, and most of all — prepare to stand up, get involved, and protect your ballot.