James Franklin Short (1902-1986) was an American businessman, rancher, and politician from the state of Oregon. He was a Republican who served one two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives, where he represented a large rural district in central and southcentral Oregon. He also served two separate periods as Oregon's director of agriculture. He was originally appointed to the position by Governor Paul L. Patterson. He then continued his service under Elmo Smith followed by a brief time under Robert D. Holmes. Later, he was re-appointed to the position by Governor Mark Hatfield. In between his periods of service in the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Short was state chairman of Oregon's Republican Party.