TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Deputy Secretary-General Lee Che-hua (李哲華) said Tuesday the party will directly nominate its candidate for Changhua County magistrate amid reports it plans to sideline three existing contenders.
Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝衣鳳), Changhua County government Counselor Ko Cheng-fang (柯呈枋), and former Deputy Magistrate Hung Jung-chang (洪榮章) had been vying for the nomination, with Hsieh seen as the frontrunner, per ETtoday. However, after Hsieh failed to secure backing from her family, the party grew hesitant to support her bid.
Lee also announced that former lawmaker Hsiao Ching-tien (蕭景田) will replace Hsieh as head of the KMT’s Changhua County branch. He said the party would forgo both primaries and negotiations and instead select its candidate directly.
The KMT offered Hsieh a deputy secretary-general post, saying she could contribute to the 2026 local elections in that role. Hsieh declined, vowing to remain in the race and wait for further developments after party Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) returns from a trip to China, per Newtalk. She said accepting the offer could create the appearance of a quid pro quo.
Ko and Hung also said they would stay in the race, per Newtalk. Ko cited his long-standing grassroots connections as key to defeating the DPP, while Hung warned against nominating a candidate weaker than the current contenders, per UDN.
Earlier reports indicated that Hsiao had recommended former KMT Disciplinary Committee Chair and lawyer Wei Ping-cheng (魏平政) as the party’s candidate, while positioning himself to oversee the local campaign. The move has fueled speculation that Hsiao is seeking a path back to the legislature.
KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said the number of contenders reflects the party’s strong chances in Changhua, per ETtoday.
Media commentator Wei An (韋安), however, warned that replacing Hsieh could jeopardize cooperation between the KMT and TPP in the county, which he said hinges on her nomination, per ETtoday. He added that selecting a weaker candidate without consulting the TPP could strain ties between the two parties.
Wei also criticized Cheng’s leadership, saying her handling of the nomination process could become a liability for the KMT in the 2026 elections.
