AUSTIN, Texas – The Dallas Morning News editorial board argued that “Federal Election Commissioner Trey Trainor,” who was caught with a Cruz sign in his front yard, “shouldn’t be campaigning for a politician with business before the commission. And if he does, he should recuse himself from that case.”

Dallas Morning News: Trey Trainor’s Ted Cruz yard sign was legal, and foolish

Dallas Morning News Editorial

• Federal Election Commissioner Trey Trainor shouldn’t be campaigning for a politician with business before the commission. And if he does, he should recuse himself from that case.

• Trainor was in the news last week for a social media post featuring a Ted Cruz yard sign.

• Cruz and Trainor share mutual support. Cruz backed Trainor’s nomination in 2020, calling him “an individual of the utmost character and experience.”

• Trainor is a political appointee, having come to his post under former President Donald Trump, as are all federal election commissioners. There’s no divorcing politics from election judges. But there are some jobs that should prevent their holders from openly campaigning for partisan candidates and causes. News reporter is one. Election commissioner is another.

• Trainor’s mistake is compounded by the fact that the FEC may rule on a $630,000 elections complaint against Cruz. As The Dallas Morning News Washington correspondent Joseph Morton reported last month, a super PAC focused on Cruz’s reelection has received hundreds of thousands of dollars tied to advertising revenue from the senator’s podcast.

• Trainor should refrain from such mistakes in future. And when the podcast matter comes before the commission, he should recuse himself.

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