Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a trailblazing figure in American politics and a proud member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, has left us at the age of 92.
Campbell, who represented Colorado with grit in both the U.S. House and Senate across decades, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2025, from natural causes, surrounded by family.
For hardworking Colorado taxpayers, especially those in rural communities, Campbell’s legacy of advocating for fiscal conservatism meant pushing back against bloated federal spending that often burdens local economies with compliance costs and reduced disposable income. His work on projects like water rights for the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes near Ignacio showed a commitment to practical solutions over empty promises. And yet, questions linger about past allegations involving a former staffer’s legal troubles, which conservatives insist must not be swept under the rug without full transparency.
Born in Auburn, California, on April 13, 1933, Campbell’s early life was marked by hardship, including time in an orphanage, shaping his dedication to children’s causes.
He served in the Air Force during the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1953, later earning a degree from San Jose State University in 1957 and studying at Meiji University in Tokyo.
An Olympian judo captain in 1964, winning gold at the Pan American Games, Campbell’s tenacity translated into politics after a chance Democratic meeting in Durango, Colorado, in 1982, launched his undefeated electoral journey.
Starting in 1987, Campbell served three terms in the U.S. House, followed by two Senate terms from 1993 to 2005, becoming the only Native American in the Senate during his tenure.
Known as a maverick, he famously switched from Democrat to Republican in 1995 over frustration with a stalled balanced-budget amendment, a move that stunned party elites but resonated with those fed up with fiscal irresponsibility.
His cowboy boots, bolo ties, and ponytail defied Washington’s stuffy norms, reflecting a rugged individualism that many conservatives admire over today’s overly polished political class.
Campbell’s advocacy spanned children’s rights, organized labor from his Teamster days, and law enforcement support from his time as a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy, yet he never shied from fiscal restraint.
He clashed with environmentalists on mining laws and land designations, prioritizing economic realities over what some see as progressive overreach, while still championing Native American issues like the Great Sand Dunes National Park upgrade.
“I get hammered from the extremes. 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,” Campbell once said, a sentiment that cuts through today’s polarized, woke-driven rhetoric with refreshing clarity (Ben Nighthorse Campbell).
Retiring in 2004 after a health scare, despite being a likely winner for a third Senate term, Campbell shifted focus to Native American jewelry showcased at the Smithsonian and outdoor gear with Kiva Designs.
He also advised on federal policy through Holland & Knight and his own Ben Nighthorse Consultants, continuing to influence Native American affairs and natural resources, while occasionally driving the Capitol Christmas Tree cross-country.
“He was a master jeweler with a reputation far beyond the boundaries of Colorado. I will not forget his acts of kindness,” said Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper on X, though conservatives might note that kindness must be matched by accountability on unresolved staffer allegations (John Hickenlooper on X).
