TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Legislator Wang Shih-chien (王世堅) on Friday rejected the possibility of running for Taipei mayor, citing personal and family reasons.
During an interview with political commentator Huang Wei-han (黃暐瀚), Wang was asked whether he would seek the DPP’s nomination for the 2026 Taipei mayoral election, given his popularity across party lines, per TVBS. Wang said he could not bring himself to face the prospect of losing to current Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), a descendant of former leader Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), noting that his own family suffered during the 228 Massacre.
Wang said Chiang’s term has been relatively smooth, and that Nvidia’s decision to establish operations in Taipei has bolstered the mayor’s standing. He added that Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya (苗博雅), known for her familiarity with city governance, would be a strong opponent for Chiang, per NOWnews.
Wang also voiced support for Taiwan Forward founder Enoch Wu (吳怡農), currently the only declared DPP contender for Taipei mayor.
Meanwhile, DPP Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yong (徐國勇) said the party is seeking “heavyweight” candidates to enter the race, per Tai Sounds. Wang suggested that only Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) fit that description.
Party insiders told UP Media that Hsu’s remarks may reflect internal doubts about Wu’s suitability. Although Wu began his political career with strong public support, his single term as Taipei DPP chair reportedly damaged his reputation.
Some within the party have nicknamed him “the American” due to his perceived detachment from DPP’s internal culture.
Wu’s refusal to run in the 2024 general election and his criticism of the party’s candidate selection process, favoring nominations over primaries, have further strained relations. His consistent reliance on direct nominations for past campaigns has also drawn internal resentment.
A veteran DPP strategist familiar with past Taipei mayoral campaigns said that the party’s candidate must also manage city councilor elections, a task they doubted Wu could handle. The strategist added that while Cheng lacks election experience, she could still be a strong choice.
The insider also mentioned former DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) as a potential candidate, saying that although Lin previously considered running in New Taipei, his political record makes him well-qualified to represent the DPP in Taipei.
