TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP Taipei Branch met on Monday to discuss its candidate for the Taipei mayoral election, narrowing the field to a smaller pool of contenders.
The party invited Taipei city councilors and lawmakers to assist Secretary-General Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) in finalizing the candidate list. DPP Spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) said the list has been narrowed following discussions, per CNA.
Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), who attended the meeting, said those under consideration included Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君), herself, Taiwan Forward founder Enoch Wu (吳怡農), Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), and Wang Shih-chien (王世堅), per UDN. However, Wang and Wu Szu-yao have declined to run.
Cheng is widely seen as the leading candidate, bolstered by her role in securing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and the prospect of becoming Taipei’s first female mayor. Still, potential changes to Taiwan’s tariff landscape could affect her candidacy.
Wang, once considered a strong contender, rejected the idea of serving as a backup if Cheng declines, per Liberty Times. He said the party should focus on persuading Cheng rather than planning alternatives.
City councilors expressed a preference for Cheng but urged the party to finalize its nominee soon. Taipei City Councilor Liu Yao-jen (劉耀仁) said delays in the decision are increasing anxiety among local officials, per FTV.
One councilor at the meeting said participants broadly agreed on Cheng as the preferred candidate but did not settle on a backup, per Tai Sounds. Shen was mentioned as a possible second choice, praised for his combative style but viewed as potentially polarizing among independent voters.
While Cheng remains the DPP’s top option, it is unclear whether she will agree to run. A party source said that if she declines, Shen is likely to become the candidate.
Enoch Wu, who initiated a bid for the party’s nomination and has not withdrawn, received limited support at the meeting, according to Fount Media. Still, the party forwarded him as a potential candidate to President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).
