Bev Stein

Stein c. 1988

Beverly "Bev" Stein is an activist, lawyer and politician from Oregon who served in various capacities in Portland, but who now lives in Tillamook. ^[1]

Biography

Stein attended the University of California and the University of Wisconsin Law School before moving to Portland, where she helped found the New American Movement's Portland chapter. She later joined the Democratic Socialists of America. ^[2] She was elected in 1988 as a Democrat to represent the 14th district of the Oregon House of Representatives, succeeding fellow Democrat Shirley Gold, who was making a (successful) run for the Oregon State Senate. Stein would remain in that position until she resigned on April 21, 1993 to seek election as chair of the Multnomah County Board. She was succeeded by fellow Democrat George Eighmey. ^[3]

Stein would win her race for board chair, and served eight years in that position. ^[4] In 2002, she resigned to run for Governor of Oregon, losing in the Democratic primary election to eventual victor Ted Kulongoski.

Election results

Oregon gubernatorial Democratic primary election, 2002 ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ted Kulongoski	170,799	48.21
	Democratic	Jim Hill	92,294	26.05
	Democratic	Bev Stein	76,517	21.60
	Democratic	William Peter Allen	6,582	1.86
	Democratic	Caleb Burns	4,167	1.18
		write-ins	3,925	1.11
Total votes			354,284	100

References

1. Bailey Jr., Everton. "For decades, Jo Ann Hardesty pressed for police reform in Portland and Oregon. This is Hardesty’s moment" The Oregonian June 23, 2020
2. Fleischman, Harry (July–August 1990). "On The Left". Democratic Left . Vol. XVIII, no. 4. p. 13. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
3. "Beverly Stein" Chronological List of Oregon Legislators Oregon Legislative Information System, accessed August 28, 2020
4. NAM.pdf Cohen, Victor. "Interview with Portland NAM Members" Work and Days Issue 55/56; Vol. 28, 2010; pp. 233-250
5. "Content Manager WebDrawer - 2002 Primary Election Official Results".