Former US Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Trailblazing Colorado Lawmaker, Dies at 92

A Statesman of Two Worlds

Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the Colorado rancher and champion Native American leader who rose from humble beginnings on a reservation to become one of the most respected voices in the U.S. Senate, has died at 92.

"He never forgot where he came from, and he made sure Washington didn't either," former colleague Sen. Mark Udall said Monday.

Campbell's death, confirmed by his family late Sunday, closes a chapter on a political life that shattered barriers and rewrote expectations for Indigenous representation in national politics.

From Internment to the Capitol

Born in 1933 to a Northern Cheyenne father and a Portuguese mother, Campbell spent part of his childhood in a California internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II. The experience, he later said, forged his belief that government must be both powerful and compassionate.

After serving in the Air Force and claiming a world judo championship, Campbell returned to Colorado, opening a jewelry business and teaching at local colleges. Voters first sent him to the Colorado House in 1983; four years later he joined the State Senate, and in 1986 he won a seat in the U.S. House.

Breaking the Senate Barrier

In 1992 Campbell made history as the first Native American elected to the Senate since 1928. He served three terms, championing:

• Tribal sovereignty and federal recognition for unrecognized tribes
• Environmental protections for Rocky Mountain wilderness
• Affordable health care for veterans
• Campaign-finance reform

Colleagues remember his trademark bolo tie and quiet persistence. "Ben didn't grandstand," former Sen. Bill Frist recalled. "He listened, learned the facts, and then moved votes."

Legacy Beyond Politics

After leaving the Senate in 2005, Campbell remained active in Native American causes, helping establish the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and mentoring young Indigenous leaders.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ordered flags lowered to half-staff Monday. Funeral arrangements are pending, but the family said a public memorial will be held in Denver later this month.

Campbell is survived by his wife, Linda, three children, and seven grandchildren.