CNN commentator Alice Stewart died Saturday at the age of 58.
Stewartâs body was found early Saturday morning outdoors in the Bellevue area of northern Virginia, according to CNN. CNN reported that police said foul play was not suspected in the Death of the avid runner, and that they believe she died after a medical emergency.
Pamela Brown shared the news on CNN Saturday evening.
âWe have some very sad news to report to you and I am very sorry that I have to tell you this. CNN political commentator and Republican political strategist Alice Stewart has passed away,â Brown said.
âMany of you knew her. She has been a staple on this network participating in many political panels bringing us deep insight into politics. Youâll remember she was a former communications director for Senator Ted Cruz. She worked with Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachman to name a few,â she said.
âAlice and I both got our start in Arkansas television in local news. I was coming up as an intern. As we both made our way to CNN she was always there with an encouraging smile or a text as I climbed up the ladder here,â Brown said
âWe always invited her to come on my show because we knew we would be a little bit smarter at the end of that conversation,â CNNâs Wolf Blitzer said after news came of Stewartâs passing, according to CNN. âShe helped our viewers better appreciate what was going on and thatâs why we will miss her so much.â
âAlice was a very dear friend and colleague to all of us at CNN,â CNN CEO Mark Thompson said in an email to the networkâs workers. âA political veteran and an Emmy Award-winning journalist who brought an incomparable spark to CNNâs 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.â
Stewart was a communications director for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabeeâs office and served the same function when Huckabee ran for president in 2008. She served as communications director for the 2016 campaign of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas,
âI just canât believe that sheâs gone,â fellow CNN commentator Maria Cardona said, noting that the two had planned to record a podcast Saturday.
âI want everyone to know what a special person she was, especially in this industry. As you know, todayâs politics can be indecent and so dirty, and Alice was just such a loving, shining light,â she said.
In a 2020 interview, Stewart said she has âa perspective that I think CNN appreciates.â
âMy position at CNN is to be a conservative voice yet an independent thinker,â Stewart said. âIâm not a Kool-Aid drinker; Iâm not a never-Trumper, and I didnât check my common sense and decency at the door when I voted for (Trump),â she said.â
The last post on her Instagram account showed her with Blitzer and  Cardona.
âItâs always a sunny day when you can join the great @wolfblitzer on #CNN with @mariacardonadc!â she posted.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
