South Jersey political strategist resigns amid Dem power struggle

A top South Jersey political strategist has resigned as head of the state Assembly Democrats’ campaign arm amid a power struggle over who will lead the caucus next year as speaker.

The fight has pit Speaker Vincent Prieto (D., Hudson) and some of his North Jersey allies against a coalition of Democrats from South Jersey, Middlesex County, and elsewhere who want to replace Prieto after November’s elections.

The South Jersey faction — led by the insurance and hospital executive George E. Norcross III — brokered a deal months ago with Middlesex County Democrats and others to elect Assemblyman Craig Coughlin as speaker.

That political deal came as Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) sought to secure support for another term as leader of the Legislature’s upper chamber. Sweeney and Prieto have clashed over a number of issues, such as Atlantic City’s financial crisis.

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