James McCoy (August 12, 1821 – November 8, 1895) was an American Democratic politician from California.

McCoy worked odd jobs, surveying and carrying mail between Yuma and Tucson, Arizona.

Charles Kelly described McCoy as "a big man over six feet tall who weighed 190 pounds [85 kilograms].

Ephraim Morse said that during the time "there are only two men in San Diego that don't occasionally get drunk and they are James McCoy, the sheriff, and myself."

In 1871, at the urging of San Diego developers, he quietly introduced a bill in the legislature to permit portions of Balboa Park to be sold to private parties.

However, San Diego residents learned of the plan and rallied to preserve the park as a public trust.