Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a trailblazer who blended Native American leadership, public service, and a distinctly American personal style, has died at 92. He passed of natural causes surrounded by family, leaving a record that included time in the Colorado legislature, the U.S. House and two terms in the U.S. Senate where he served as both a Democrat and later a Republican. His life mixed service, craftsmanship, athletics and plainspoken politics in ways that mattered to his state and to Indian Country.
Campbell’s family confirmed his death and said he was with loved ones when he passed. He leaves behind his wife Linda, his children Shanan and Colin, and four grandchildren. The personal side of his life mattered to him as much as the public one.
He made history as the first Native American to serve in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, and he never stopped pushing for Native American issues. He was a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and worked to honor difficult parts of American history by sponsoring upgrades for sites connected to past tragedies. His advocacy always carried the weight of personal connection and historical memory.
Campbell became known not just for policy but for his unmistakable look: cowboy boots, bolo ties and a ponytail that said who he was without pretense. Outside of politics he was a renowned master jeweler whose pieces are displayed at the National Museum of the American Indian. He brought native art and craftsmanship into national institutions with quiet dignity.
“He was a master jeweler with a reputation far beyond the boundaries of Colorado. I will not forget his acts of kindness. He will be sorely missed,” Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper said on X. Those words reflect a bipartisan respect for someone who bridged worlds and carried his culture into public life.
Campbell also had a varied and hands-on life before and after politics. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War, captained the U.S. judo team in 1964 and won gold at the Pan American Games. He later coached, ran a dojo, taught high school and even worked as a deputy sheriff, blending service and sport in a very American story.
He was no stranger to the outdoors either; Campbell was a cattle rancher and a passionate motorcyclist who earned a place in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He drove the Capitol Christmas Tree to Washington more than once, a small but memorable public service that reflected his love of tradition and country. Those who saw him in these roles remember a man comfortable moving between public duties and personal passions.
Politically, Campbell was a social liberal and fiscal conservative who made a controversial but principled party switch in 1995. Although he had been elected as a Democrat, he felt betrayed when a balanced-budget amendment was defeated and moved to the Republican Party. “It didn’t change me. I didn’t change my voting record. For instance, I had a sterling voting record as a Democrat on labor. I still do as a Republican. And on minorities and women’s issues,” he once said, insisting his convictions were steady even as his party label changed.
“I get hammered from the extremes,” he said shortly after the switch. “I’m always willing to listen … but I just don’t think you can be all things to all people, no matter which party you’re in.” That line sums up his independent streak and his willingness to face backlash rather than abandon core beliefs.
After leaving office, Campbell founded a consulting firm focused on federal policy and Native affairs while continuing to design jewelry. He kept working on the issues that mattered to him, including natural resources and tribal rights, and maintained an active public presence. His blend of policy savvy and cultural advocacy made him a respected figure across political lines.
“He will be missed here in Colorado and across the country, and his contributions leave a lasting legacy to our state and nation,” Gov. Jared Polis said on X. “He was truly one of a kind, and I am thinking of his family in the wake of his loss,” Rep. Diana DeGette said on X, echoing a mix of respect and personal sympathy from leaders across the aisle. Those tributes show a life that held steady impact and earned widespread regard.
