TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) on Thursday suggested that former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) may be the Democratic Progressive Party’s strongest option to challenge Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) in the next mayoral election.

You argued that with Chiang free of major scandals and earning praise for navigating land arrangements for Nvidia’s planned headquarters, most DPP candidates would struggle against him, per ETtoday. He said the party should focus on mounting a respectable campaign rather than expecting to defeat Chiang.

Still, You said Tsai could have a chance, as she may retain a strong support base in Taipei. He added that even figures like DPP Legislator Wang Shih-chien (王世堅) would likely need a scandal involving Chiang to have a realistic shot.

Wang said the DPP needs a heavyweight candidate of Tsai’s stature to be competitive in Taipei, but noted that Tsai prefers to stay out of the spotlight except when needed for diplomacy or national security.

DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), however, said You was not being serious in proposing Tsai as a potential candidate, arguing that Tsai’s leadership significantly elevated Taiwan’s international visibility, per SETN.

In addition to Tsai, You also discussed the possibility of DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) being nominated for Taipei mayor. You said President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) holds Shen in high regard but predicted Shen would likely lose heavily if he ran.

Although United Microelectronics Corp. founder Robert Tsao (曹興誠) and civic groups behind the failed recall campaigns against KMT lawmakers have urged the DPP to nominate Shen, Shen has already said he has no interest in running for office in the near future, per Liberty Times.

Wu defended Shen’s qualifications, saying he has built a strong reputation in national defense, security, diplomacy, and law. She said Shen would perform well as a candidate, but that his proper “battlefield” is the Legislative Yuan.