Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Force the Issue NJ

Website:

www.forcetheissuenj.org/
Location:

Jersey City, NJ
Tax ID:

81-3377999
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Type:

Left-of-center Activist Organization
Founded:

2016
Board Chair:

Glenn Wolff-Eisenberg

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Force the Issue NJ is a left-of-center nonprofit organization in New Jersey that develops and hosts web sites and online tools that support liberal causes and organizations 1 and publishes endorsements for liberal Democratic candidates at the federal and local levels. 2 It was founded by previous organizers of the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign in Hudson County, New Jersey. 3

In addition to its online presence, Force the Issue NJ has joined with other left-of-center activist organizations to fight for left-of-center causes such as elimination of mass incarceration 4 and demand changes to the election ballots to address alleged “gerrymandering.” 5

Background

Force the Issue NJ was founded in 2016, fueled by the 2016 U.S. election results. 6 It was founded by Glenn Wolff-Eisenberg and John Gnesin, organizers and volunteers for the Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign in Hudson County, New Jersey. 7

Force the Issue NJ is a lobbying organization located in New Jersey that develops and hosts web sites and online tools called Platforms for Progress to support “progressive and community-focused individuals and organizations” that are meant to “fight for […] progressive policy outcomes in New Jersey.” 8

In 2019, The Resistance – Jersey City, a similar activist organization founded by supporters of the Clinton 2016 Presidential Campaign, merged with Force the Issue NJ to continue to develop Platforms for Progress. 9 In addition to donations to the organization, Force the Issue NJ looks for volunteers to help design and develop Platforms for Progress, data activists to research organizations and submit them for the directory, and content developers. 10

Platforms for Progress

Platform for Progress is an online directory tool developed by Force the Issue NJ. 11 It lists “progressive and community organizations” that are in New Jersey or support New Jersey liberal causes. The list includes organizations that support left-of-center causes, including leniency in criminal justice policy, environmentalism and climate change mitigation, liberal expansionist immigration policies, labor unionism, LGBT advocacy, left-wing political organizations, and liberal religious organizations. Organizations listed in the directory, along with associated links, include American Friends Service Committee, New Jersey chapters of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Drug Policy Alliance, Good Government Coalition of New Jersey, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164, League of Women Voters of New Jersey, Make the Road New Jersey, Citizen Action of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, NJ 11th for Change, and New Jersey State AFL-CIO. 12

Run Against the Machine is a series of articles and stories that feature “insurgent progressive candidates” running against New Jersey Democratic incumbents. 13

The Garden State Commune is a podcast which “explores the structure of NJ politics from a progressive left viewpoint.” 14

Political Actions

In 2020, Force the Issue NJ partnered with All of Us or None – Northern NJ, which fights against mass incarceration, on a social media campaign, a petition, and a letter to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) to release prisoners who may be vulnerable to health complications due to COVID-19, prisoners within six months of the end of their sentences, those who are in pretrial detention, and detained youth. 15

In 2021, Force the Issue NJ partnered with the Good Government Coalition of New Jersey to initiate the Better Ballots New Jersey campaign. Force the Issue NJ was credited for the initial idea and the campaign title. As part of this campaign, “A Resolution to Establish a Fair Ballot,” demanding election reform and improved election ballots in New Jersey, was developed. The resolution claimed that the current ballot design is intentionally confusing, “causing voter disenfranchisement through gerrymandering of the ballot. 16 17 Other organizations participating in the resolution included Action Together New Jersey, League of Women Voters of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, New Jersey Policy Perspective, Citizen Action of New Jersey, and Save Our Schools NJ. 18

Force the Issue NJ publishes endorsements at the federal and state levels on the website. The group’s 2022 endorsements included now-Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), due to his “blend of progressivism, populism, and pragmatism,” and several other Democrats. 19

Leadership

Glenn Wolff-Eisenberg has been board chair of Force the Issue NJ since its inception in 2016. He is director of program design and evaluation at volunteer organization New York Cares. 20 His education at The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University focused on social movements. He played a leadership role organizing for the Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign in Jersey City. 21 Previously he was an intern for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey. 22

Eloy Delgado is vice chairman of the board. 23 He is associate director of government relations for left-of-center labor union New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

John Gnesin is co-founder, former CEO and currently treasurer of Force the Issue NJ. He is an assistant director for risk management at the New York City Housing Authority. Gnesin played a leadership role in the Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign in New Jersey. 24

Hector Oseguera joined the board in 2020 as director of outreach and engagement. 25 He is an attorney who specializes in anti-money laundering. Oseguera was a volunteer for the Senate campaign of Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in 2012, the Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign in 2016, and the Congressional campaign of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in 2018. 26

References

  1. “Platforms for Progress.” Force the Issue NJ. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  2. John Gnesin. “Our 2022 Congressional Endorsements.” Force the Issue NJ – News & Updates. October 9, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/2022/10/09/our-2022-congressional-endorsements/
  3. “Our Mission.” Force the Issue NJ. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  4. “Governor Murphy: Decarcerate to Flatten the COVID-19 Curve in NJ!” Change.org. April 23, 2020. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.change.org/p/governor-murphy-decarcerate-to-flatten-the-covid-19-curve-in-nj
  5. “Better Ballots New Jersey.” Good Government Coalition of New Jersey. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://ggcnj.org/betterballotsnj/
  6. “The Resistance Jersey City and Force the Issue NJ Join Forces to Launch ‘Platforms for Progress’.” Insider NJ. May 2, 2019. https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/resistance-jersey-city-force-issue-nj-join-forces-launch-platforms-progress/
  7.  “Our Mission.” Force the Issue NJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  8.  “Our Mission.” Force the Issue NJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  9. “The Resistance Jersey City and Force the Issue NJ Join Forces to Launch “Platforms for Progress.” Insider NJ. May 2, 2019. https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/resistance-jersey-city-force-issue-nj-join-forces-launch-platforms-progress/
  10. “Support Our Work.” Force the Issue NJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/support-our-work/
  11.  “Support Our Work.” Force the Issue NJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/support-our-work/
  12. Force the Issue – Directory. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/directory-coordinates/
  13. John Gnesin. “Run Against the Machine: Hector Oseguera for Congress – NJ’s 8th Congressional District.” Force the Issue NJ. May 25, 2020. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/2020/05/25/run-against-the-machine-hector-oseguera/
  14. John Gnesin. “The Garden State Commune: Our 2021 Agenda.” Force the Issue NJ. February 15, 2021. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/2021/02/15/the-garden-state-commune-our-2021-agenda/
  15. “Governor Murphy: Decarcerate to Flatten the COVID-19 Curve in NJ!” Change.org. April 23, 2020. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.change.org/p/governor-murphy-decarcerate-to-flatten-the-covid-19-curve-in-nj
  16. “Better Ballots New Jersey.” Good Government Coalition of New Jersey. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://ggcnj.org/betterballotsnj/
  17. “More Than 60 Organizations Call for Better Ballots in New Jersey.” Insider NJ. June 3, 2021. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.insidernj.com/60-organizations-call-better-ballots-new-jersey/
  18. “GGCNJ Resolution to Establish a Fair Ballot.” Good Government Coalition of New Jersey – BetterBallotsNJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://ggcnj.org/betterballotsnj/resolution/
  19. John Gnesin. “Our 2022 Congressional Endorsements.” Force the Issue NJ – News & Updates. October 9, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/2022/10/09/our-2022-congressional-endorsements/
  20. LinkedIn – Glenn Wolff-Eisenberg. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennwolffeisenberg/
  21. “Who We Are.” Force the Issue NJ – Our Mission. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  22. LinkedIn – Glenn Wolff-Eisenberg. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennwolffeisenberg/
  23. “Who We Are.” Force the Issue NJ – Our Mission. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  24. LinkedIn – John Gnesin. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngnesin/
  25. “Hector Oseguera joins Force the Issue NJ & 2020 Election Updates.” Force the Issue NJ – Organization Updates. September 9, 2020. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/2020/09/09/hector-oseguera-joins-force-the-issue-nj-2020-election-updates/
  26. “Who We Are.” Force the Issue NJ – Our Mission. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://forcetheissuenj.org/mission/
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: January - December
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2018

    • Available Filings

    No filings available.

    Force the Issue NJ

    4 BEACON WAY APT 1001
    Jersey City, NJ 07304-6104