This week President Trump nominated Republican attorney James E. "Trey" Trainor III of Texas to serve on the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the independent regulatory agency charged with enforcing campaign finance laws.

A graduate of Texas A&M law school, Trainor is a partner in the Austin office of the national law firm Akerman LLP. He served as counsel to Trump's presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee, and he represented Texas on the Standards Advisory Board to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, according to his firm's bio.

All of the commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. No more than three can be members of the same political party, and at least four votes are required for any official FEC action. There are currently five commissioners and one vacancy since Democrat Ann Ravel resigned earlier this year. Three of the current commissioners are Republicans, one is a Democrat, and Chairman Steven Walther is an independent.

The White House announcement said Trainor would fill the remainder of a six-year term, though it did not initially specify which seat. There was speculation that he would replace Republican Commissioner Lee Goodman, who announced he would step down by year's end. But then the administration resubmitted the nomination paperwork so that, if confirmed by the Senate, Trainor would replace Commissioner Matthew Petersen, who Trump has nominated for a federal judgeship. Trainor's term would expire in 2023.

That the nomination happened at all raised eyebrows given that the Ravel seat has remained open for six months without a nominee. But adding to the controversy are the work Trainor has done in the past to undermine political money disclosure, his ties to the Trump campaign, and his promotion of extremist religious views.

Here are a few important things to know about Trainor: