James Allen Joines is an American politician currently serving as the mayor of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2009, he was also appointed chairman of the North Carolina Economic Development Board.^[1]

Joines, a Democrat, was elected mayor of Winston-Salem on November 6, 2001. He defeated Republican incumbent Mayor Jack Cavanagh, Jr. by a wide margin. Before his election, Joines had served as deputy assistant city manager.^[2]

Joines had been named as a possible challenger to Congresswoman Virginia Foxx in North Carolina's 5th district in the 2006 election, but declined to enter the race.^[3]

In the 2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election, many suggested Joines as a potential candidate in the Democratic primary, but he declined, stating that there was still work he wished to do in Winston-Salem.^[4]

In the 2013 election, Joines was challenged by Gardenia Henley in the Democratic primary.^[5] His Republican opponent, James Knox, dropped out of the race in August after it was revealed he had used a racial epithet to refer to an elections worker, although his name was still on the ballot. Joines was elected to his fourth term in the general election.^[6]

In the 2016 election (Winston-Salem elections had moved to even-numbered years),^[7] Joines was easily re-elected, with only a write-in candidate opposing him.^[8]