After graduation from Marshall University and Xavier University, Stewart was a salesman for Caterpillar before winning election to AthensCity Council and as City of Athens Auditor. With incumbent Kerry Metzger unable to run again due to term limits, Stewart sought to replace him. Unopposed in the 2002 primary election, Stewart faced James Pancake in the general election, and won by 4,000 votes. Early in his first term, Governor Bob Taft named Stewart to the Commission on Higher Education. Sighting Stewart as vulnerable in 2004, House Democrats fielded former Athens City CouncilmanPat Lang to run against him. However, Stewart was easily reelected, winning by 9,000 votes. When Joy Padgett became a candidate for Congress in 2006, Stewart was mentioned as a potential appointment candidate if she had won the seat. However, Padgett lost to Zack Space. In his battle for a third term, Stewart faced his strongest opposition yet. Against Democrat Debbie Phillips, final tallies came down to under 1,000 votes, guaranteeing an automatic recount. Stewart won this time by only 842 votes. In September 2007, Joy Padgett announced that she would not seek another term in the Senate. Shortly after, Senate Republicans stated that they would support Stewart to replace her. With the Senate seat being one targeted in the past by Democrats, they took the open seat as an opportunity, and fielded Morgan County Commissioner Rick Shriver to run against Stewart. The race proved to be colorful, with Shriver being caught up in unflattering stories perpetuated by Stewart's campaign, and with Stewart touting the reliability of his Geo Prizm. Stewart beat Shriver by 12,000 votes. For the 129th General Assembly, Stewart served as Senate majority floor leader, the third highest position of the Senate. In late May 2011, Stewart announced that he planned to resign his seat in the 20th Senate District at the end of the fiscal year, when he will go to serve as president of the Ohio Gas Association. While Stewart says that there were no ulterior motives, many believe Stewart's unpopular votes on collective bargaining legislation lead to the decision to resign. Stewart continued as majority floor leader, the number three leadership post, until he left office. Stewart resigned from the Senate effective June 30, 2011, over eight years after initially coming to the Ohio General Assembly.
