- Her physique was discovered outdoors in Virginia – police say there was no foul play
The devastated CNN colleagues of Alice Stewart have paid tribute to the political commentator following her sudden loss of life on the age of 55.
Stewart’s physique was discovered outside within the Bellevue neighborhood of Virginia early on Saturday morning after struggling a ‘medical emergency’.
Police say no foul play was suspected and officers consider Stewart suffered a medical episode. No additional details about the reason for loss of life was revealed.
Stewart’s colleagues, from the information community and the Republican celebration, have taken to social media to share heat tributes following her shock loss of life.
CNN anchor Jim Acosta stated: ‘My coronary heart is damaged over the passing of our pricey colleague Alice Stewart. We have been buddies going again to the 2012 marketing campaign. Alice was my pal and I beloved her. RIP.’
Stewart was pictured on her personal Instagram account on Friday, writing ‘It is all the time a sunny day when you’ll be able to be part of the good Wolf Blitzer.’
She appeared to guide a comparatively wholesome life-style and solely final month posted images of her participating in a ten mile run, nicknamed the Cherry Blossom run, in Washington D.C.
CNN’s Jessica Dean broke the information about their very own political commentator simply earlier than 5:30pm on Saturday night.
‘We’ve some very unhappy information to report back to you and I’m very sorry that I’ve to inform you this. CNN commentator and Republican political strategist Alice Stewart has handed away,’ Dean stated, tearing up.
‘A lot of you knew her. She has been a staple on this community collaborating in lots of political panels bringing us deep perception into politics. You may bear in mind she was a former communications director for Senator Ted Cruz. She labored with Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachman to call a couple of,’ she stated, choking again tears.
‘Alice and I each received our begin in Arkansas tv in native information. I used to be developing as an intern. As we each made our method to CNN she was all the time there with an encouraging smile or a textual content as I climbed up the ladder right here,’ Dean defined.
CNN lead anchor, Wolf Blitzer paid his personal tribute to Stewart. ‘Personally, I’ll miss her very a lot and am very unhappy to listen to this information. She introduced us all a lot data and perception. She was such a worthwhile piece of the crew right here at CNN.’
‘We’re all processing this information because it was so sudden,’ Blitzer added. ‘We all the time invited her to return on my present as a result of we knew we’d be just a little bit smarter on the finish of that dialog,’ he stated.
CNN staffers shared their shock at studying of Stewart’s loss of life on social media.
Alyssa Farah stated: ‘Gutted over this information. Alice Stewart was good, savvy, humorous & most significantly variety. She felt like she was from one other period – a extra respectable one the place we [could] disagree respectfully.
‘She was variety to me once I was in a low place & I am going to always remember it. Sending like to these closest to her.’
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wrote: ‘I’m shocked and saddened by the information of Alice Stewart’s passing.
‘She was a political professional and a splendidly good individual to simply have a dialog with on any subject. I’ll miss Alice and can pray for her household.’
CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins added: ‘Simply devastating information about our colleague Alice Stewart. She’s going to all the time be remembered by her kindness above all.’
Fellow colleague Jake Tapper stated: ‘Horrible information about our beloved and gifted commentator Alice Stewart. Simply terrible. We’re all gutted.’
‘A surprising loss for the CNN household’, wrote nationwide safety and legislation enforcement reporter Josh Campbell. ‘Wanting by means of all of my previous messages with Alice. It is 99.99% HER cheerleading OTHERS and constructing us up! Notes out of the blue simply to say ‘nice job’ on this subject or that. Such an extremely variety soul. God bless her reminiscence.
‘I’m turned inside out at this tragic information. As many know, Alice & I had been like sisters from reverse ends of the political aisle. We debated however w respect. I’ll miss her dearly however appears God wanted some top-notch communications assist. RIP lovely pal,’ wrote Democrat political strategist, Maria Cardona.
‘Alice Stewart was a lady’s lady who introduced kindness and help together with smarts and experience. I met her in Iowa in 2007 overlaying the Huckabee presidential marketing campaign and labored along with her in politics earlier than I received to name her a CNN colleague. I can not consider she’s gone,’ stated CNN anchor Dana Bash.
‘The final time I noticed Alice she introduced her beloved Sammie to see me at work. We texted usually. Her final textual content to me was to thank me for one thing I stated to her. She complimented me on my wardrobe. I used to be touched when she gifted me a pair of her dad’s cuff hyperlinks & a tie holder,’ former CNN anchor Don Lemon posted.
‘We shared a love of canine. We argued on television however by no means in actual life. She all the time had a delicate coronary heart and type phrases each time we related. I am going to miss you, together with many others whose lives you touched. Relaxation in peace.’
‘Alice was a really pricey pal and colleague to all of us at CNN,’ Mark Thompson, the community’s CEO, stated in an electronic mail to employees on Saturday.
‘A political veteran and an Emmy Award successful 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 got here on board CNN as a political commentator earlier than the 2016 election and often appeared on air to supply perception on the political information of the day. She final appeared solely yesterday on The State of affairs Room with Wolf Blitzer.
Stewart advised the Harvard Political Evaluation in 2020 that she brings ‘a perspective that I feel CNN appreciates.’
‘My place at CNN is to be a conservative voice but an unbiased thinker,’ Stewart stated. ‘I´m not a Kool-Help drinker; I´m not a never-Trumper, and I didn´t examine my frequent sense and decency on the door once I voted for (Trump).’
Stewart additionally co-hosted the podcast Scorching Mics from Left to Proper alongside fellow CNN commentator Maria Cardona and served on the senior advisory committee on the Institute of Politics at Harvard College’s Kennedy Faculty the place she was beforehand a fellow.
In her free time, Stewart was an avid runner. She often posted images from highway 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.
Stewart was born on March 11, 1966, in Atlanta and started her profession as an area reporter and producer in Georgia earlier than securing a promotion as a information anchor in Little Rock, Arkansas.
She later moved into public relations turning into communications director for then Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s workplace and fronting his presidential run in 2008.
In 2012, Stewart served because the communications director for the presidential campaigns of former Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
Throughout his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, she was the communications director for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.
On this planet of politics there was related shock adopted by admiration for Stewart’s work.
‘Heartbreaking,’ Cruz posted on Saturday to X. ‘Alice was fantastic and gifted and a pricey pal. And he or she beloved America fiercely. She lived day by day to the fullest, and he or she shall be deeply missed. Could God’s consolation and peace be upon her family members. RIP.’
Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson posted on X that Stewart’s ‘sudden loss of life is such a loss to all who valued her friendship in addition to her political ardour’
‘I first met Alice in Arkansas and I’m proud that she centered on making buddies in politics and never making enemies,’ he posted. ‘Thanks Alice Stewart!’
‘Alice was simply in regards to the nicest individual you’d ever hope to satisfy, deeply dedicated to enhancing civil discourse, and keen about bringing higher illustration for center American conservatives to elite corridors. RIP, Alice. You may be missed,’ Scott Jennings wrote.