Despite calls for unity, none of the four DPP candidates appear ready to drop out and endorse a rival
KAOHSIUNG — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) reaffirmed her determination to stay in the race for Kaohsiung mayor on Friday, despite being indicted by prosecutors in June over the alleged misuse of legislative assistant fees. Lin has denied all wrongdoing, and is charging ahead with her bid. Late last week saw the unveiling her new campaign billboard at the intersection of Huarong and Yucheng roads with the slogan “Major Reform, National Defense Mayor” (大改革、護國市長).
The United Daily News reports that Lin has outlined a three-pronged industrial strategy for securing the party’s nomination to run against Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) in the 2026 mayoral election.
Lin’s Three-Pillar Strategy
Lin said her vision for Kaohsiung’s development rests on three major sectors. Firstly, Lin vowed to build on semiconductor manufacturing and AI applications, but she also pledged to help traditional industries in what was once Kaohsiung County—such as fasteners, metal processing, and chemical materials—enter the trillion-dollar supply chain through government guidance and certification.
“For Taiwan to stand firm, Kaohsiung must stand strong,” Lin said, calling the city a key anchor in national defense. With Kaohsiung’s base in shipbuilding, steel, and machinery, Lin said her second priority would be the city’s role in Taiwan’s defense industry. She vowed to establish a drone and unmanned vessel demonstration base within one year, and help local firms enter international defense supply chains within two.
And last, as a port city, Lin proposed leveraging liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy to develop high-end aquaculture and cold-chain logistics, forming a southern marine industrial corridor linking Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung, and targeting exports to Japan.
She also floated ideas such as indoor ski resorts to boost tourism.
A Tight DPP Race with No Clear Frontrunner
The DPP’s primary is set for late November or early December, according to sources. Recent media surveys show no clear frontrunner among the four declared candidates — Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺), Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩), Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑), and Lai Rei-lung (賴瑞隆).
Lin’s new billboard and campaign relaunch signal an intensified push ahead of the primary. She compared the campaign to a marathon, promising to “run hard, and to stay the course to the end.” Lin’s campaign has also announced a major rally on Nov. 1 at Gangshan Riverside Park to mobilize supporters.
Kaohsiung has long been considered a stronghold of the DPP, but the city is not immune from takeovers by the KMT, as happened in 2018 when the KMT’s Han Guo-yu won a surprise victory.
Both major parties are courting Kaohsiung voters as Taiwan heads into the 2026 city election and then the 2028 presidential elections.
