Can Kaohsiung Really Change Hands? Ko Chih-en Closes Gap on Lai Jui-long as Hung Meng-kai Reveals This Inspiring Scene from Southern Campaign Rally

With only 110 days remaining until the 2026 Nine-in-One Elections, the latest poll on the Kaohsiung mayoral race released on the 10th by Juren Tianxia News Network shows DPP nominee Lai Jui-long with 47.78% support, while KMT nominee Ko Chih-en stands at 46.14%, a mere 1.64 percentage point gap—within the margin of error. This has sparked speculation that Kaohsiung, traditionally a green stronghold, could potentially turn blue.

KMT legislator Hung Meng-kai, appearing on the program "News Straight Talk," shared that he recently campaigned for Ko Chih-en in the Niaosong District of Kaohsiung. He described being deeply moved by the sight of over 500 supporters gathering under the scorching sun—entirely of their own volition. "It was truly remarkable," he said, emphasizing the grassroots momentum.

In the upcoming Kaohsiung mayoral election, incumbent mayor Chen Chi-mai is stepping down after two terms. The DPP selected legislator Lai Jui-long through its internal primary, setting up a direct contest against KMT at-large legislator Ko Chih-en.

According to the latest Juren Tianxia poll, Lai leads with 47.78% support compared to Ko’s 46.14%. However, 4.24% of voters remain undecided, and 1.84% say they support neither candidate or will not vote—indicating a fluid race.

Regarding Ko Chih-en’s narrowing gap, Hung Meng-kai noted that during his campaign stop in Niaosong last Friday, around 400 to 500 supporters gathered spontaneously despite the intense heat. "It was incredibly moving," he said. He stressed that no free meals or bottled water were distributed—supporters came purely out of conviction to listen to speeches and music.

In contrast, Hung pointed out that Lai Jui-long has established numerous support associations, mostly operating indoors with air conditioning. "Ko Chih-en is fighting a tough campaign," he emphasized.

The poll was commissioned by Juren Tianxia and conducted by Pearson Data. It targeted Kaohsiung residents aged 20 and above with internet access, running from July 27 to August 1, 2026, over six days. The survey collected 1,608 valid responses, with a sampling error of ±2.40% at a 95% confidence level.

Related exclusive reports from Feng Media: - Feng Media Poll: Lai Jui-long Leads by 8 Points at 39.6%—Ko Chih-en Gains High-Educated Voters and Breaks Through in This District - Can Ko Chih-en Win Kaohsiung by Year-End? Shen Fu-hsiung Analyzes Poll, Utters Four Characters: She Has Great Potential - "Congratulations to Ko Chih-en—She’s Now in a Winning Position!" Shen Fu-hsiung Reveals the Key to Her Poll Surge: The Most Unexpected Factor