James Donovan (May 28, 1859 – January 19, 1929) was an American politician who held a number offices in the city of Boston.

[2][3] He was defeated for reelection by A. Francis Richard, but contested the election on the grounds of fraud and irregularities on the part of precinct officers.

Multiple witnesses testified before a special committee of the common council that they saw wardens in precincts 1, 2, and 3 mark a number of the ballots.

On March 8, 1883, four of the five committee members found that there was enough evidence of fraud in precents 1, 2, and 3 to recommend that the Council declare the seat vacant and hold a new election, while the fifth member, William F. Wharton, dissented because he believed that fraud was only proven in precinct 3 and these 11 ballots would not change the outcome of the election.

[7] He led the Democrats' successful 1901 campaign, which included Patrick Collins' victory in that year's mayoral election.

[13] On January 20, 1906, Donovan married Henrietta Louise Webber in a small ceremony in the rectory of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.