Former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Northern Cheyenne, died at 92; served Colorado in Congress, championed Native rights.

Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a Northern Cheyenne tribal member and Colorado Republican, has died at 92 from natural causes. He served in the House from 1987 and the Senate from 1993 to 2005, switching parties in 1995 over disagreements with Democratic leadership. A champion of Native American rights, tribal sovereignty, children’s rights, and fiscal conservatism, he chaired the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and helped elevate the Great Sand Dunes area to national park status. Known for his distinctive style and independent thinking, Campbell retired in 2004 after a health scare, later focusing on jewelry design and advisory work.