A source told InsiderNJ tonight that embattled Bergen County Sheriff Mike Saudino – multiple party leaders and Republican adversaries against him – was trying to dig in and fight for political survival.

He apologized, but didn’t step down.

Still, it looked very grim, after WNYC’s Matt Katz wrote a story about Saudino making racist comments about blacks and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

The party wants him out.

That includes Bergen County Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato.

It includes Governor Phil Murphy and Grewal.

The Governor’s team was personally calling leaders.

Leaders issued statements on their, too.

But the source said Saudino – a former Republican coaxed into the Democratic ranks as Stellato stormed to victory after victory in Bergen during the Chris Christie era – doesn’t want to leave like this.

45-year career.

Doesn’t want to be defined by this grotesque episode.

But he was underestimating the fallout, the source said.

On Thursday, as the voices calling for him to stand down grew louder, the sheriff, this source said, “wasn’t listening or talking to anyone.”