TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP may nominate Zhubei Mayor Cheng Chao-fang (鄭朝方) on June 3 as its candidate for Hsinchu County magistrate.

KMT Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying (徐欣瑩) secured the party’s nomination for Hsinchu County magistrate after defeating Hsinchu County Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien (陳見賢) in a contentious primary, though divisions stemming from the contest reportedly remain, per UDN. Cheng has long been viewed as the DPP’s preferred candidate, but even the involvement of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) reportedly failed to persuade him to enter the race, per NOWNews.

According to recent reports, however, Cheng has accepted the party’s call to run, and Lai is expected to announce the nomination personally on June 3.

Previously, Cheng said any decision on a potential magistrate bid should be left to residents of Zhubei and Hsinchu County. Responding to the latest reports, Cheng declined to comment and described the claims as speculation.

DPP Hsinchu County Branch Chair Su Jen-chien (蘇仁鑑) said he had not received any directive from party headquarters, adding that the nomination process for the county magistrate race is expected to conclude in June, per SETN.

UP Media reported that the DPP may seek an alliance with the New Power Party under which Cheng would run for Hsinchu County magistrate and NPP Chair Wang Wan-yu (王婉諭) would run for Zhubei mayor. The arrangement would aim to address concerns about retaining control of Zhubei by backing a candidate with an established support base.

Wang received about 43% of the vote in Zhubei when she lost to KMT lawmaker Lin Szu-ming (林思銘) in the 2024 legislative election. Her chances in a Zhubei mayoral race could improve if opposition parties fail to unite behind a single candidate.

Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke (楊文科) has suggested selecting a joint opposition candidate through polling, while TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) has said he would prefer the joint nomination go to a TPP candidate.