Chen Chi-mai's Approval Rating Soars to 80.9%! Over 60% of KMT Supporters Approve, Cross-party Support Strengthens DPP's Electoral Position

The Kaohsiung mayoral election race is intensifying, and the latest public opinion poll not only reflects the blue-green political rivalry but also highlights incumbent Mayor Chen Chi-mai's governance performance as the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) strongest asset. According to a recent survey by ETtoday Poll Center, Chen's approval rating has surged to 80.9%, a new high. Notably, 61.6% of Kuomintang (KMT) supporters expressed satisfaction—higher than the 26.9% who were dissatisfied—creating the rare phenomenon of 'KMT supporters backing Chen,' further strengthening the DPP's position ahead of the year-end elections.

The poll shows Chen's overall administrative approval at 80.9%, with 32.6% saying they are 'very satisfied' and 48.4% 'fairly satisfied,' while only 10.6% expressed dissatisfaction, indicating overwhelming public endorsement of city governance.

Cross-analysis reveals that 98.6% of DPP supporters approve of Chen's performance—nearly unanimous. Remarkably, 61.6% of KMT supporters also express satisfaction, meaning more than six out of ten KMT supporters approve of Chen's administration—more than double the rate of disapproval. Approval among Taiwan People's Party (TPP) supporters stands at 59%, and among those with no party affiliation, it reaches 73.9%, demonstrating that Chen's governance evaluation has transcended party lines.

Age-group analysis also shows broad support. Satisfaction among 20- to 29-year-olds reaches 98.3%, indicating near-universal approval. The 40–49 age group shows 86.6% approval, 30–39-year-olds 82%, and even among the 50–59 cohort—where approval is relatively lower—it remains at 73.9%. For those aged 60 and above, approval is 74.1%, indicating consistently positive evaluations across generations.

The poll also examined the upcoming Kaohsiung mayoral race. In a hypothetical contest between the DPP's Lai Jui-long and the KMT's Ko Chih-en, Lai leads with 36.2% support compared to Ko's 23.6%, a 12.6-point gap. Another 32.8% remain undecided. When asked who they expect to win, 40.4% favor Lai, while only 16.2% back Ko.

Further cross-analysis shows that among voters satisfied with Chen's governance, 43.7% support Lai, compared to only 18.6% supporting Ko. This indicates that Chen's high approval is translating into electoral advantage for the DPP's successor, becoming Lai's most valuable political asset.

The survey was conducted by ETtoday Poll Center from July 16 to 18 via telephone interviews (CATI), using stratified random sampling of 1,071 eligible respondents aged 20 or older registered in Kaohsiung. At a 95% confidence level, the margin of error is ±3 percentage points. All data have been weighted.

As the year-end election approaches, one side sees an incumbent mayor breaking partisan barriers with over 80% approval, while the other sees successor Lai leading in both support and perceived electability. The latest poll reveals a dual dynamic in Kaohsiung's electoral landscape: the continuation of governance dividends and mounting pressure on the blue camp to catch up.