Population changes spurred by the pandemic. Byzantine zoning laws that make construction agonizingly slow and expensive. Stagnant wages amid stubborn inflation rates.

All these factors have contributed to years of skyrocketing housing prices — and leaders in Washington, including President Biden — have shown little ability to get a handle on the issue. That’s putting even more pressure on governors to come up with solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

But those state leaders are facing steep obstacles — and potential electoral consequences in November if they fail to make inroads. The issue is increasingly critical for Americans across demographic and partisan lines, with a recent poll showing three-quarters of voters citing housing affordability as a significant problem.

Governors are responsible for guiding a broad strategy for building more houses, and they must navigate cumbersome laws and regulations that hike up construction costs and delay ribbon cuttings for new developments.