TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An internal KMT poll shows Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) holding a commanding lead of nearly 30 percentage points over Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) in the party’s Taichung mayoral primary matchup.

According to the KMT survey, 41.4% of respondents chose Chiang when asked to pick between the two, while 12.9% backed Yang, per ETtoday. In hypothetical general-election matchups against DPP Legislator Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純), Chiang led by 20 points, while Yang held a narrow 1.4-point edge.

The poll also measured satisfaction with Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), finding 67.5% satisfied and 25.2% dissatisfied.

The results sharply differ from an online poll conducted by Nextapple News, which showed Yang leading at 34.4%, 3.9 points ahead of Chiang, per Storm Media. The same online poll also showed TPP Legislator Mai Yu-cheng (麥玉珍) at 21.9%, defeating Ho by nine points.

Responding to the KMT poll, Ho noted what she viewed as a disconnect between satisfaction with Lu’s governance and broader public sentiment, per UDN. Yang said her supporters pointed out that the KMT survey did not disclose the polling institution and urged her not to be swayed by the figures.

Yang has formally declared her candidacy for the KMT’s mayoral nomination, while Chiang has not. She argued she is the only contender with the right qualifications, citing her planning and execution abilities and familiarity with residents’ concerns, per UDN.

Meanwhile, KMT members and local leaders appear divided. On Tuesday, 21 of Fengyuan District’s 36 borough chiefs publicly voiced support for Chiang. At the event, borough chief Cheng Wen-hsin (鄭文鑫) urged Chiang’s backers not to attack Yang and called on Chiang to announce his candidacy soon, per Liberty Times.

Taichung City Councilor Chen Pen-tien (陳本添) called on KMT leadership to actively coordinate the primary to ensure the party nominates its strongest candidate, per UDN.