Browsing: Mayoral race 2026

Ko Chih-en toured pumping stations and flooded neighborhoods as prolonged rainfall strained drainage systems across Kaohsiung.

A Kaohsiung poll puts Mayor Chen Chi-mai’s job approval at 83.5%, but the landline survey is a measure of reported sentiment, not a forecast of November’s mayoral race.

Kaohsiung expects more shared tax revenue in 2027 but says a larger loss of central project grants will leave its overall budget NT$4.9 billion smaller. The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) disputes that explanation, arguing that the law increased Kaohsiung’s share of national tax revenue and that the reduction in project grants was a separate decision by the central government.

Chen Chi-mai’s new book recounts six years of Kaohsiung projects, political negotiations and late-night calls that former president Tsai Ing-wen jokingly described as “torture.”

The Big Media poll points to a question that has followed Lai’s campaign for months: Why has he not built a more comfortable lead in a city where the DPP holds the mayor’s office, all eight district legislative seats and a strong local organization?

Mayor says he will finish his term amid speculation he could be promoted.

By KHT Staff. Images via 柯志恩 Facebook page. KAOHSIUNG — KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) on Tuesday proposed…

Polls have varied widely. In early June, one had Lai at 45% and Ko trailing at 25%. Not long after, another poll put Lai at 40.3% and Ko at 39.7%. The spread between those results highlights how unreliable polling can be, and the latest poll is better read as evidence that the race may be tightening.

KMT Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) criticized DPP lawmakers Saturday over their response to the Central Union Oil (中聯油脂) scandal, saying they had focused on attacking local governments rather than explaining how contaminated oil entered the food supply chain.

She acknowledged that Kaohsiung remains a city where the DPP has more support than the KMT, and said she does not deny that Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) has maintained strong approval ratings. Ko also said previous mayors, including Han, deserved credit for parts of their work. She said Han’s administration, though short-lived, made improvements to roads, drainage, and flood prevention.