Ben Nighthorse Campbell, First Native American Senator in Decades, Dies at 92

Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado died on Tuesday. He was 92 years old. Campbell was a groundbreaking political figure. He served in the Senate from 1993 to 2005. He was the first Native American senator in more than 60 years at the time of his election. His career was marked by notable political changes. He began as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in 1995. He was known for his distinctive style, often wearing bolo ties and his signature Native American jewelry in the Senate. Before politics, Campbell was a decorated military veteran and a world-class athlete. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He also competed in judo at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Campbell represented Colorado first in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms before his Senate service.