James A. Barnett (born July 30, 1954) is an American Republican politician from Kansas. Barnett ran for governor in 2018, ultimately coming in third place in the primary. Barnett formerly represented the 17th district of the Kansas Senate, which is centered on Emporia. On August 1, 2006 Barnett won the Kansas Republican Gubernatorial Primary. Barnett faced the incumbent Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius in the general election on November 7, 2006 and was unsuccessful in his bid as Sebelius was reelected for a 2nd term.