CNN colleagues mourn death of UGA alum Alice Stewart

Friends and colleagues at CNN are reacting with shock after the weekend death of Alice Stewart: the 58 year-old Atlanta native was a University of Georgia alum who worked as a political analyst at CNN. Stewart’s body was found outdoors in a northern Virginia neighborhood. Police said no foul play was suspected and believe that Stewart suffered a medical emergency.

From WSB TV…

Alice Stewart, a political commentator for CNN who worked for several Republican presidential campaigns, has died, the cable news outlet reported on Saturday. She was 58.

Law enforcement officials told CNN that Stewart’s body was found outdoors in a northern Virginia neighborhood. Police said no foul play was suspected and believe that Stewart suffered a medical emergency.

“Alice was a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN,” Mark Thompson, the network’s CEO, said in an email to staff on Saturday. “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. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn such an extraordinary loss.”

Stewart was born on March 11, 1966, in Atlanta. She attended the University of Georgia, where she graduated with a degree in broadcast news and political science, according to the Harvard International Review.

Stewart began her career as a local reporter and producer in Georgia before becoming a weekend news anchor for KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas, CNN reported. According to Stewart’s LinkedIn profile, she worked at the station from January 1998 to January 2005.

She also worked as a reporter in Savannah, Georgia, Fox News reported.

Stewart served as the communications director for then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office in 2005 before assuming a similar role for his presidential run in 2008, according to the cable news outlet.

Stewart served as the communications director in 2012 for the presidential campaigns of former Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, CNN reported. After the 2012 election, Stewart hosted a radio talk show for KHTE-FM in Little Rock, according to Politico.

She later was the communications director for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz during his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, according to the news outlet.

“Heartbreaking. ⁦Alice was wonderful and talented and a dear friend,” Cruz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “And she loved America fiercely. She lived every day to the fullest, and she will be deeply missed. May God’s comfort and peace be upon her loved ones. RIP.”

Stewart was also an occasional host on SiriusXM radio on the POTUS Channel.

She was hired by CNN as a political commentator before the 2016 presidential election, CNN reported.

Stewart was a frequent contributor on CNN, with her last appearance occurring on Friday on the network’s evening program, “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

She also served on the senior advisory committee at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School, CNN reported. She was also a fellow at the school.

©2024 Cox Media Group