Alice Stewart, CNN political commentator, dead at 58

Alice Stewart, a veteran CNN commentator and a political adviser who has worked on many Republican campaigns, is dead at 58, the network announced Saturday. 

Her body was found outdoors in a neighborhood in northern Virginia on Saturday, law enforcement told the outlet. Officers said no foul play occurred and said her death was likely due to a medical emergency, CNN reported.

Stewart, who kicked off her career as a local reporter, joined CNN as a contributor in 2016.

She worked for a variety of Republican politicians, from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) to more recently being a communications director for Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) 2016 presidential campaign. 

“Alice was a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN,” CNN CEO Mark Thompson told the network’s staff on Saturday, per the outlet.

“A political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who brought an incomparable spark to CNN’s coverage, known across our bureaus not only for her political savvy, but for her unwavering kindness,” Thompson added. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn such an extraordinary loss.”

Stewart, who was born in Atlanta in 1966, was on the senior advisory committee at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. She also co-hosted a podcast called “Hot Mics from Left to Right” with CNN commentator Maria Cardona. 

The last time she appeared on the network was Friday on “The Situation Room” with anchor Wolf Blitzer.

“We always invited her to come on my show because we knew we would be a little bit smarter at the end of that conversation,” Blitzer told Jessica Dean Saturday on “CNN Newsroom.” “She helped our viewers better appreciate what was going on and that’s why we will miss her so much.”

CNN anchor Jake Tapper took to social media platform X to give his condolences after the news broke.

“Unbelievably kind, smart, astute, Alice was beloved by everyone at CNN,” he wrote. “I am so sorry for her family. What a loss.”

Fellow commentator David Axelrod, who also serves on the Harvard committee, said he was “devastated” by the news of her untimely passing.

“You’d be hard put to find a nicer, kinder person,” he posted on X. “She will be missed by all who knew her.”