CNN’s political commentator and veteran political adviser, Alice Stewart, has passed away at the age of 58.
According to CNN, police found Stewart’s body outdoors in a northern Virginia neighborhood. Authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected, believing she suffered a medical episode.
CNN’s CEO Mark Thompson expressed his sorrow, describing Stewart as “a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN.” He praised her as “a political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who brought an incomparable spark to CNN’s coverage,” adding that she was known for her political savvy and unwavering kindness. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn such an extraordinary loss,” Thompson said.
Born on March 11, 1966, in Atlanta, Stewart began her career as a local reporter in Georgia before becoming a news anchor in Little Rock, Arkansas. She later served as communications director for Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and held similar roles during his 2008 presidential run. Stewart also worked as communications director for the 2012 presidential campaigns of Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Most recently, she served as the communications director for Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s 2016 campaign.
Stewart joined CNN as a political commentator before the 2016 election, frequently appearing on air to provide insights on political news. Her last appearance was on Friday’s episode of “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”
In a 2020 interview with the Harvard Political Review, Stewart explained her role at CNN: “My position at CNN is to be a conservative voice yet an independent thinker. I’m not a Kool-Aid drinker; I’m not a never-Trumper, and I didn’t check my common sense and decency at the door when I voted for (Trump).”
