James McDonald (20 May 1856 – 15 August 1933) was an Australian politician.
He was born in Geelong to mason John McDonald and Catherine McIntyre.
He served on Bannockburn Shire Council from 1888 to 1917, with four terms as president (1893–95, 1900–01, 1911–12, 1916–17).
In 1917 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Polwarth, representing the Economy Party faction of the Nationalists.
His nephew Allan McDonald succeeded him in the seat.