Denis Kearney (1847--1907) was a California political leader in the late 19th century. He represented the anti-immigrant view.

He was born in County Cork, Ireland and emigrated to the United States. He worked as a sailor and then as a drayman in San Francisco. During the Long Depression, he became popular by speaking to the unemployed in San Francisco, denouncing the railroad monopoly and immigrant Chinese labor, known as Coolies. His slogan was simply, the Chinese must go.

He organized the Workingmen's Party of California and led a sometimes violent outlash at Chinese in the area. He was influential in the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Acts. The party was influential at the California constitutional convention of 1878.

Kearney travelled east to popularize his views, but found few takers. He faded from the public's eye by 1878, leaving only his legacy of xenophobic laws to be overturned a few years later.