James Norwood Patterson (born February 18, 1948) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly from 2012 to 2024.

Prior to being elected to public office, he was a business executive and broadcaster owning and operating radio stations in California and Idaho.

Patterson was Mayor of Fresno between 1993 and 2001, defeating incumbent Democrat Karen Humphrey for reelection by a landslide, and being succeeded by Alan Autry.

Patterson ran for the Republican nomination in California's 19th congressional district, to take over the seat of retiring Congressman George Radanovich.

[3] In the wake of a 2018 shooting spree in Tulare County by an illegal alien, Patterson called on his fellow legislators to change California Sanctuary Law SB54 to allow local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.