From the Statehouse to Cumberland County, from CD3 to CD5, from Hackensack to , here are the Insider NJ key must-read pieces of the past week:

Sweeney’s Caucus in Uncharted Territory After Sarlo Puts up Hostile Amendments to Smith Bill

It was close to bedlam as a caucus long nestled under the sturdy auspices of Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) appeared on the senate floor visibly cracked, and Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36) made the unprecedented move of offering hostile amendments to a renewable energy bill authored by party colleague Senator Bob Smith (D-17).

InsiderNJ’s Who’s Up and Who’s Down: Special Super Tuesday Edition

It was a big night for Joe Biden last night on an historic Super Tuesday that appears to have boiled the Democratic presidential primary contest down to Biden versus Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Lesniak Institute For American Leadership Super Tuesday Panel (Video)

Watch Insider NJ Editor Max Pizarro (moderator) and Insider NJ columnist Alan Joel Steinberg participate in a panel organized by the Lesniak Institute for American Leadership ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries.

Kennedy Wins the Atlantic County Democratic Convention

In a stunning repudiation of the South Jersey Democratic Organization that backs her rival, mental health specialist Amy Kennedy today soundly defeated Montclair University Political Science Professor Brigid Harrison for the support of the Atlantic County Democratic Committee.

Bar Notes CD2 Source: ‘They will have no Choice but to Go to War’

They spilled out of the hotel that faces the sea where Amy Kennedy had just badly beaten Brigid Harrison and suddenly created momentum around her 2nd Congressional District (CD2) candidacy.

Bennett Drops out of the CD2 Contest

Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett decided to suspend her campaign today and did not immediately back someone else in the CD2 contest.

Bennett Nominates Witherspoon for Her Freeholder Seat

First-term Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett of Egg Harbor Township just nominated Dr. Thelma Witherspoon for her 3rd District Freeholder seat.

Mayor Small and the Developing Contests in the Room

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small could be observed at a table in an antechamber adjacent to the packed main ballroom and InsiderNJ asked him what was going on.

‘Van Drew Screwed My Teeth Up’

Robert Campbell, former Mayor of Hamilton Twp., said he well knows U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2), who changed his party affiliation last year from Democrat to Republican.

Armato and Marino Say Atlantic Contest ‘Too Close to Call’

Assemblyman John Armato (D-2) just swung by table 36 here at the sumptuous Seaview a Dolce Hitel and grinned.

The Jill Biden Effect on the Already-Nationalized Battleground 2nd District

Biden has significant street cred in South Jersey. But it’s more than that even. There are deep binding Biden ties in the 2nd.

The Implications of Surrency off-the-line in Cumberland County

The expungement of Cumberland County Freeholder Jack Surrency from the party line produced competing story lines about why it happened, and also set up the prospect of expedient friendships off-the-line in a 2020 batteground region of the state.

CD3 GOP Primary: the Acrimonious Gibbs v. Richter Collision

One candidate has had a few run-ins with the law; the other is seen by some as a carpetbagger. Welcome to the Republican race for Congress in the Third District.

Richter Defies Conventional Wisdom with Ocean Win over Gibbs

As Ocean County Republicans began filling up the convention floor Wednesday night at the Days Hotel, Kate Gibbs paused while making her rounds to observe.

CD3 Flashpoint: Richter Wins the Backing of the Ocean County GOP

David Richter won a round tonight in what promises to be an acrimonious fight for the GOP congressional nomination in the third district (CD3).

Schneider Endorsement of Richter Further Weakens Gibbs

The endorsement of David Richter over Kate Gibbs by Lee Schneider in her home county of Burlington demonstrates fracture in the BurlCo Republican Party organization that in this case inures to Richter’s advantage in a brutally intensifying primary.

GOP Senate Candidate Singh Grabs a Win in Ocean

GOP Senate candidate Hirsh Singh tonight snagged the endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Committee.

Kevin McCabe to Join River Crossing Strategy Group as Partner; Will Lead New Public Affairs Division

River Crossing Strategy Group is excited and honored to welcome Kevin P. McCabe to the River Crossing team, who joins the firm as partner and will lead a new public affairs division.

Murphy Admin Officials On Coronavirus: Low Risk, High Preparedness

Governor Murphy said today at a health summit in Ewing that while there was a generally low risk of coronavirus infections for New Jersey residents, the administration in Trenton was working closely with their federal counterparts to ensure that measures were being taken to safeguard the health and well being of New Jerseyans.

Barberio Movement Turns Heads in Parsippany

During the public portion of a recent council meeting, a man rose to criticize Mayor Michael Soriano, suggesting it was “absurd” for the mayor to continue to blame the previous administration for township fiscal woes.

Pennacchio Fires off a Letter to the Governor

He may be known as “Jersey Joe” to some, but Joe Pennacchio likes channeling Abe Lincoln.

State Dept. Rep. to Booker: ‘Kremlin’s Role is to Divide Us,’ on Coronavirus

At a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Thursday, ranking member U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) pressed a state department official to explicate the Russian government’s role in spreading misinformation about the coronavirus and asked for her assistance in resisting what he characterized as the Trump Administration’s complicity in facilitating a culture of untruth.

Drilling into that CD-5 Poll by Cygnal

While nothing is ever certain, especially in politics, if the numbers play out, Congressman Josh Gottheimer is likely safe to retain his seat in CD5.

Booker Endorses Biden for President

“The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose. @JoeBiden won’t only win – he’ll show there’s more that unites us than divides us,” Booker tweeted. “He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Joe.”

Veteran GOP Operative Woloshen Glass Begins as Mehta’s Campaign Manager

Veteran Republican operative Amanda Woloshen Glass has hired on to serve as the campaign manager for Rik Mehta, who has sewn up considerable Republican establishment support in his quest to win the June 2nd Republican Primary for U.S. Senate.

Distilling The Altman Report

It was one of those political moments that are hard to forget; the removal of activist Sue Altman from a Nov. 18 legislative hearing about tax incentive grants to companies connected to political boss George Norcross.

Chairman Zisa Heads off Trolls at Candidates’ Forum

Jack Zisa is warning Bergen County Republicans that they better play nice – at least with each other.

Kennedy Demands Harrison Explain Op-Ed She Penned Urging Christie Prez Run

As it heads toward the Atantic County Convention this coming weekend, the primary for the Democratic nomination for Congress in CD2 is fast intensifying.

Codey: ‘I Expect the [NJ] Party to Unite Behind Biden’

Former Governor Dick Codey – the Democratic senator representing New Jersey’s 27th district – said Joe Biden’s performance last night on Super Tuesday inevitably catapults him in New Jersey.

Post Super Tuesday Hamm: Establishment More Inclined to Embrace Conventional Primary

Post Super Tuesday, Bernie Sanders for President NJ Chairman Larry Hamm said he suspects the Democratic Party establishment will harden its support for conventional primary lines.

A WWII Combat Veteran’s Plea for a Rebirth of Courage, Integrity and Honor

I may be one of the youngest living American combat veterans of World War II, having run away
from home at the age of 14 to cross into Canada and join the Canadian Army in early 1942.

Schumer Plays to the Cheap Seats on the Left

With his we-know-where-your-children-go-to-school threat directed at two Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer cast his lot with his party’s lunatic fringe, tacitly legitimizing mob rule as an acceptable response to political or policy differences.

A Path to Greater Worker Protection in a Time of the Coronavirus

New Jersey in the last hours announced its first two positive Coronavirus cases. It is almost certain there will be many more cases in the state in the weeks ahead.

Change Yet Comfort: Joe Biden’s Formula to Win the Nomination

Every Presidential election poses this question: Do voters want change, or do we want reassurance about the future?

There’s more to key voter groups for Biden and Sanders than meets the eye

The story of the 2020 primary has been that Joe Biden does well among older voters, moderates, and black voters. Bernie Sanders counts younger voters, liberals, and Latinos among his key backers.

Notes on Super Tuesday, the Night of Joe-Mentum

When I’m wrong, I own up to it. But my critics harp on my wrong predictions all day long.

The Morning After: A Next Day California Remembrance

Most likely the morning after the Californian primary is a tough one for the hundreds of thousands of young Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren supporters.

Tips for a Better #ChamberTrain

The dust has settled on the 83rd annual New Jersey Walk to Washington Chamber of Commerce train trip where powerful political and business types schmooze and make deals.

The Race for Better Politics in New Jersey

With the spotlight on #MeToo and celebrations of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, it can be easy to overlook a problem that plagues communities across the garden state: RACISM.