Dr. Stefan Bean has effectively won re-election as Orange County Superintendent of Schools before a single vote was cast.

An Orange County Superior Court judge signed an order this month determining that Bean's challenger, Dr. Jeff Cole, failed to meet the basic requirements to appear on the ballot. With Cole removed, Bean is running unopposed and can claim victory for the countywide education post.

Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Cole did not hold the correct credential for the position. California Education Code Section 1206 requires candidates for county superintendent of schools to possess a valid Administrative Services Credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Cole's background is in special education, not administration, and sources say his credential did not meet the statutory requirement.

The Republican Party of Orange County announced the outcome in a press release on March 23, congratulating its endorsed candidate.

"Dr. Bean is more than qualified to stand for election. He has proven his merit to lead at the Orange County Department of Education," said OC GOP Chairman Will O'Neill.

Cole's campaign

Cole, a former Anaheim Elementary School District board president with over 30 years in Orange County public schools, had been running on a platform of classroom-focused spending, administrative accountability, and community transparency. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Cal State Fullerton and advanced degrees in special education and social sciences.

During his time on the Anaheim Elementary board, Cole led the passage of Measure J, a $318 million school bond that was approved by 73 percent of voters and completed on time and within budget. But holding a school board seat and running a campaign do not require the same credential as serving as county superintendent — and that distinction cost him his place on the ballot.

Bean's path to the position

Bean's story is one of the more unusual in Orange County politics. Born as Nam Le Thanh in Saigon during the Vietnam War, he contracted polio as a toddler and was paralyzed from the waist down. He was abandoned by his family and lived in an orphanage before being airlifted to the United States in 1975 as part of Operation Babylift.

Adopted by a San Diego family, Bean went on to earn degrees from USC, Loyola Marymount, and Cal State Fullerton. He spent more than 25 years in education, including nearly 12 years at Aspire Public Schools in Los Angeles, where he rose to superintendent overseeing 11 schools. He later served as executive director of the Irvine International Academy.

The OC Board of Education appointed Bean as the county's 12th superintendent in June 2024 to complete a two-year term after Al Mijares stepped down. Bean had previously run against Mijares in 2022 and lost.

Early 2026 wins for OC GOP

The party noted that Bean joins two other OC GOP-endorsed incumbents who have secured early 2026 victories: Mari Barke on the OC Board of Education and Andrew Hamilton as OC Auditor-Controller.

Bean's uncontested race means Orange County voters will not have a choice for superintendent on their ballots this cycle.