By Eryk Michael Smith/Staff
TAIPEI — The Kuomintang (KMT) on Tuesday announced its first round of nominations for the 2026 local elections, naming candidates for mayoral and county magistrate races in southern Taiwan and Taitung roughly a year ahead of the vote.
KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) said the party had nominated Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) to run for Kaohsiung mayor, Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) for Tainan mayor, Legislator Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉) for Pingtung County magistrate, and Taitung County Council Speaker Wu Hsiu-hua (吳秀華) for Taitung County magistrate.
The four contests announced Tuesday are widely viewed as difficult races for the KMT, underscoring the party’s intention to begin organizing and consolidating support well ahead of the 2026 elections.
Cheng said the early nominations were unusual but deliberate, aimed at avoiding drawn-out election campaigns that, she argued, disrupt effective governance. She criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for “politicizing governance” and urged a return to what she described as “policy-focused administration.”
The party’s nomination review committee approved the slate unanimously on Monday. Cheng added that incumbents in KMT-governed cities and counties will be nominated later, allowing them to prioritize municipal and county administration rather than early campaigning.
