TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Kao Chia-yu (高嘉瑜) announced Wednesday she will run for a Taipei city council seat representing Nangang and Neihu districts.

Kao said she hopes for a fresh start in the district, noting that the DPP won four seats there when she last ran, per ETtoday. Asked whether she plans to return to the legislature, Kao said her priority is helping the party by working more closely with its core supporters.

Kao’s return has sparked concern among fellow party members. Taipei City Councilor Wang Hsiao-wei (王孝維) pointed out that when Kao was elected city councilor in 2018, she garnered more than 34,000 votes, per Storm Media. He argued that Kao’s ability to attract a disproportionate share of votes contributed to his own defeat that year.

Wang warned that if Kao again concentrates too much support, the DPP could lose one or two seats in the district. He urged the DPP’s Taipei branch to devise a strategy to ensure all party candidates are elected.

Branch Chair Chang Mao-nan (張茂楠) responded that the party will coordinate vote allocation efforts to maximize the chances of success for all DPP candidates, per UDN.

Kao also addressed Wang’s concerns, saying she is willing to do whatever it takes — including covering related expenses out of pocket — to coordinate with the party, per Tai Sounds. She added that Wang has been active in politics far longer than she has and noted his strong support among the district’s party base.

Kao lost her legislative seat in 2024 after failing to win reelection against Kuomintang Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀), per Liberty Times. Ahead of the vote, the DPP feared that Taiwan Statebuilding Party member Wu Hsin-tai (吳欣岱) could split the DPP-leaning electorate and hand the seat to the KMT.

Lee defeated Kao by 17,502 votes, while Wu received 26,382 votes, per the Central Election Committee Database. Before the election, Wu said opposition to Kao from local factions prompted her party to field its own candidate, per PTS.

Kao has faced resistance from parts of the DPP base due to her repeated criticism of the party. At an event hosted by DPP Chair Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in early 2023, tensions flared when Kao arrived at the venue, per Newtalk. Despite her attempts to de-escalate the situation, some DPP supporters shouted insults, accusing her of being a “traitor” and “tearing the DPP apart.”