TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Legislator Wu Tsung-hsien (吳宗憲) on Monday clinched the opposition alliance’s nomination for the Yilan County magistrate race, defeating TPP candidate and former lawmaker Chen Wan-hui (陳琬惠).
According to a joint poll, DPP candidate Lin Kuo-chang (林國漳) secured 28.9% support, compared with Wu’s 27.6%, per Tai Sounds. In a separate matchup, Lin polled 27.5% against Chen’s 21.1%.
Lin led both matchups in the survey, consistent with previous polling.
After Wu’s victory, Chen said she would continue to back the opposition alliance and work to keep the DPP out of the county, per Liberty Times. Wu said his administration would aim to be bipartisan, per Mirror Media.
Commenting on Lin’s lead, Wu said it was partly driven by campaigning efforts by President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) administration, per ETtoday. Asked whether he would offer Chen a role in his administration, Wu said doing so could risk violating election rules and declined to make such a promise.
Lin congratulated Wu on defeating Chen and expressed confidence in winning the magistrate’s seat, per TTV.
Wu’s main challenge in the race may be consolidating pro-KMT forces rather than uniting the broader opposition, per Liberty Times. Political insiders said that although the TPP mobilized high-profile figures, including former party chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), its limited local base weakened Chen’s chances against the KMT.
Meanwhile, Yilan County Council Speaker Chang Sheng-te (張勝德), who lost to Wu in the primary, has said he will remain neutral in the magistrate election. Perceptions that Wu had party backing, combined with reports that Chen was only willing to work with him, fueled resentment among Chang’s supporters.
Chang’s loss, despite his stronger local support base, has driven some of his backers away from Wu and toward Lin, per Liberty Times. While Chang’s stance could prove pivotal, he has said his focus remains on his council seat and speakership.
