CNN
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Alice Stewart, a veteran political adviser and CNN political commentator who labored on a number of GOP presidential campaigns, has died. She was 58.
Legislation enforcement officers advised CNN that Stewart’s physique was discovered open air within the Bellevue neighborhood in northern Virginia early Saturday morning. No foul play is suspected, and officers consider a medical emergency occurred.
“Alice was a really expensive good friend and colleague to all of us at CNN,” Mark Thompson, the community’s CEO, stated in an e-mail to workers Saturday. “A political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who introduced an incomparable spark to CNN’s protection, recognized throughout our bureaus not just for her political savvy, however for her unwavering kindness. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn such a rare loss.”
Stewart was born on March 11, 1966, in Atlanta.
Stewart began her profession as an area reporter and producer in Georgia earlier than transferring to Little Rock, Arkansas, to be a information anchor, she advised Harvard International Review. She went on to function the communications director in then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s workplace earlier than assuming an analogous function for his presidential run in 2008.
She additionally served because the communications director for the 2012 Republican presidential bids of former Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann after which former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, additionally a former CNN commentator. Most just lately, Stewart was the communications director for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 GOP marketing campaign.
CNN employed Stewart as a political commentator forward of the 2016 election, and he or she appeared on air incessantly to supply perception on the political information of the day, together with as just lately as Friday on “The State of affairs Room with Wolf Blitzer.”
“We all the time invited her to come back on my present as a result of we knew we’d be a bit of bit smarter on the finish of that dialog,” Blitzer advised Jessica Dean on “CNN Newsroom.” “She helped our viewers higher recognize what was happening and that’s why we’ll miss her a lot.”
Talking about her function as a commentator for the community, Stewart advised Harvard Political Review in 2020 that she brings “a perspective that I believe CNN appreciates.”
“My place at CNN is to be a conservative voice but an impartial thinker,” Stewart stated. “I’m not a Kool-Support drinker; I’m not a never-Trumper, and I didn’t test my widespread sense and decency on the door after I voted for (Trump).”
Stewart was additionally a co-host of the podcast “Hot Mics From Left to Right,” alongside fellow CNN commentator Maria Cardona.
“I simply can’t consider that she’s gone,” Cardona stated on “CNN Newsroom,” including that the 2 have been going to file an episode of their podcast Saturday. “I would like everybody to know what a particular individual she was, particularly on this trade. As you recognize, as we speak’s politics might be indecent and so soiled, and Alice was simply such a loving, shining gentle.”
Stewart additionally served on the senior advisory committee on the Institute of Politics at Harvard College’s Kennedy Faculty, the place she previously was a fellow.
In her free time, Stewart was an avid runner. She incessantly posted images from street races on social media, together with from the TCS New York Metropolis Marathon, which she ran in November, and the Credit score Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile race, which she ran final month.
This story has been up to date with extra info.
CNN’s Kayla Gallagher contributed to this report.