Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, a trailblazing Native American lawmaker known for his distinctive style and advocacy, died Tuesday at the age of 92.

Campbell passed away of natural causes while surrounded by family members, according to his daughter Shanan Campbell. He is survived by his wife Linda, their two children Shanan and Colin, and four grandchildren.

As the first Native American to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, Campbell left an indelible mark on American politics. His 12-year Senate career from 1993 to 2005 was notable not only for his legislative accomplishments but also for his memorable personal style that included cowboy boots, bolo ties, and a signature ponytail.

Campbell began his political career as a Democrat but made headlines in 1995 when he switched to the Republican Party while serving in the Senate. Despite the switch, which angered Democratic leaders at the time, Campbell maintained that his core principles remained unchanged.

“It didn’t change me. I didn’t change my voting record,” he once said about his party switch. “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.”

A member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, Campbell was a passionate advocate for Native American issues throughout his political career. He spoke openly about his ancestors being among the more than 150 Native Americans—mostly women, children, and elderly men—who were killed by U.S. soldiers while camped under a flag of truce in 1864. He later helped sponsor legislation to upgrade the Great Sand Dunes National Monument in southern Colorado, the site of the massacre, to a national park.

Born on April 13, 1933, in Auburn, California, Campbell’s life was marked by extraordinary diversity of experience. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War before earning a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University in 1957. He later studied at Meiji University in Tokyo from 1960 to 1964.

A world-class athlete, Campbell captained the U.S. judo team at the 1964 Olympics and won a gold medal in the Pan American Games. His professional experience included work as a deputy sheriff in Sacramento County, California, coaching the U.S. national judo team, operating his own dojo, and teaching high school.

Beyond politics and athletics, Campbell gained recognition as a renowned master jeweler. His distinctive designs are displayed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, a testament to his artistic talent. After leaving Congress, he continued to design and craft American Indian jewelry while also founding Ben Nighthorse Consultants, a lobbying firm focused on federal policy including Native American affairs and natural resources.

Colorado’s political leaders from both parties paid tribute to Campbell following news of his death. Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Campbell’s service, saying on social media that Campbell “will be missed here in Colorado and across the country, and his contributions leave a lasting legacy to our state and nation.”

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, also a Democrat, remembered Campbell’s kindness and his reputation as a master jeweler that extended “far beyond the boundaries of Colorado.”

Throughout his political career, Campbell described himself as a social liberal and fiscal conservative, a combination that sometimes put him at odds with the extremes of both parties. “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,” he once reflected.

Campbell retired from the Senate in 2005 citing health concerns, but his legacy as a groundbreaking lawmaker, accomplished athlete, and talented artist continues to resonate in Colorado and across the nation.