James Clark Haynes (September 22, 1848 – April 14, 1913) was a lawyer and Democratic politician who served as the 22nd and 24th mayor of Minneapolis.

At age 11 he began attending local schools (future Minnesota attorney general Henry W. Childs was a classmate and friend).

He initially practiced law in Buffalo, New York and Eau Claire, Wisconsin before relocating to Minneapolis in 1878.

He was also a backer and president of the American District Telegraph Company of Minneapolis from 1883 to 1906.

[2] As a member of the city council and mayor, Haynes was involved in efforts to create a water reservoir in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, the continuing development of the city's streetcar network, and working to restore public trust and eliminate corruption in the wake of former mayor A.