Affordable housing is one of the most critical issues today, but you don’t hear many candidates at the national level talk about it much. With the War, global warming and national health care as top priorities, even those with housing experience are highlighting other issues. I spoke with U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (click here for interview), who is running in Oregon against Republican Gordon Smith – and previously ran Habitat for Humanity in Portland. He has pushed for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund in Oregon. I then spoke with Jim Himes of Connecticut (interview here), who is running for Congress against Chris Shays – New England’s last Republican in the House. Himes has worked on affordable housing development in New York – as well as in Connecticut. Both Merkley and Himes have good chances of winning in November, and could be strong affordable housing leaders in Congress.