Bernard Epton (1921-1987) was a wealthy insurance attorney and Republican Illinois state legislator most notable for opposing Harold Washington for the mayoralty of Chicago in 1983. Epton came within 40,000 votes (of 1.2 million cast) of defeating Washington in a racially charged election.

Known for being witty and occasionally sharp-tounged, Epton died in Ann Arbor, Michigan less than three weeks after Harold Washington's death.

One of his four children, Jeff Epton, was an alderman in Ann Arbor.