Thomas Kane

Thomas Kane (1832 or 1835 – November 6, 1905) was an Irish American coal miner and politician who served in the California State Senate from 1880 to 1883. Elected as a member of the Workingmen's Party of California, he remained active in the anti-Chinese movement even after leaving office and joining the Republican Party.

On April 6, 1880, Kane charged that a lobbyist attempted to bribe him to vote for an upcoming bill. The Senate opened an investigation the next day, but during testimony Kane "absolutely refuse" to name the party responsible. He was found in contempt of the Senate and was threatened with expulsion, but was instead jailed for a single night.