TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The KMT is unlikely to allow former party spokesperson Ho Chih-yung (何志勇) to compete against incumbent Mayor Kao Hung-an (高虹安) in the 2026 Hsinchu mayoral election.

A KMT insider said that KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) and TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) have agreed that incumbents should be prioritized, per Tai Sounds. The insider said the situation would only change if the KMT’s Central Standing Committee rejects that arrangement.

The insider said KMT leaders are expected to meet with TPP counterparts in the coming days, with Kao’s potential re-election bid among the topics to be discussed. As no formal decision has yet been made on allowing Kao to run as the opposition’s joint candidate, the party can only communicate its current stance to Ho.

However, the insider said that once the Central Standing Committee decides not to field its own candidate, the KMT could invoke internal party mechanisms against Ho should he persist in running.

Ho commented on his decision to run on Saturday, saying his insistence on running could form the basis for opposition cooperation in the 2026 local elections and the 2028 presidential election, per Liberty Times. He said fairness and transparency are necessary for the opposition to gain support from its base and independent voters.

Ho also said that if the TPP were to commit to not nominating its own candidate in the 2028 presidential election, he would be willing to withdraw his bid for Hsinchu mayor.

KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲), who attended an event hosted by Ho, said she welcomes all mayoral hopefuls as long as they are qualified, per Liberty Times. Former Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄), who was also present, declined to comment on whether he supports Ho’s potential candidacy.

Asked about reports that the KMT may not field its own candidate in Hsinchu, Kao said she has not met with Cheng or KMT Secretary-General Lee Chien-lung (李乾龍), but expressed appreciation for the KMT’s positive assessment of her governance. She said her current focus remains on making up for time lost to court proceedings and that any decision on seeking re-election would require further discussions with TPP leadership and her family, per Newtalk.