James George Schaefer (August 30, 1938 – May 29, 2018) was an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives. Schaefer was first elected to the state House from District 21 in 2010. Redistricting in 2012 placed him in District 26B, where he won election in 2012, and had served from January 11, 2013 until his death. He lived in Kennebec, South Dakota and was a rancher. Schaefer died, on May 29, 2018, in an UTV accident at his ranch near Kennebec.