By RK Shih/Staff. Image via KH City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — Incumbent Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) has reached a record 83% approval rating, a number that, according to the Liberty Times, sets a very high threshold for any candidate seeking to succeed him in the 2026 local elections.
The latest poll, conducted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Elite Free Exchange, indicates that Chen’s support crosses traditional party lines. Notably, 68% of Kuomintang (KMT) supporters expressed satisfaction with his performance, while approval among Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) supporters exceeded 93%.
Public sentiment was particularly strong regarding Chen’s industrial and tourism initiatives. Approximately 78% of respondents credited his “semiconductor strategic triangle”—formed through cooperation with Arizona and Kumamoto, Japan—as beneficial to the city’s development. Tourism efforts also saw high engagement, with 84% support for large-scale events, such as the “Squid Game” and “One Piece” promotions.
The third annual Kaohsiung Winter Amusement Park (高雄冬日遊樂園) recorded a 74% satisfaction rate, with 84% of residents favoring its continuation under future administrations. Additionally, 74% supported the city’s conversion of a former golf course into the recently opened Green Park (果嶺公園).
Wang Chih-sheng (王智盛), secretary-general of the exchange association, noted that Chen’s dominant polling across all age groups places significant pressure on the next mayoral field. This includes the KMT’s suspected candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), who has notably praised Chen’s policies in recent public statements
At the national level, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) maintains a 59% approval rating in the city. However, unlike the broad consensus for the mayor, dissatisfaction with the president remains high among opposition voters, with nearly 90% of KMT and TPP supporters reporting unfavorable views.
