Kaohsiung's Elderly Vote Turning Blue? Behind Ko Chih-en's Lead Over Lai Jui-long Among Voters Aged 60+

The 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election is heating up. According to the latest poll, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Jui-long leads with 47.78% support, slightly ahead of Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ko Chih-en at 46.14%. The margin of just 1.64 percentage points falls within the margin of error, indicating a deadlocked '50-50' race. However, when support is broken down by age group, Ko Chih-en leads Lai by 3.70 percentage points among voters aged 60 and above. Amid an otherwise tight race, the 'silver vote' has become a key factor where Ko holds an advantage, and the underlying reasons are worth examining.

Ko Chih-en has emphasized long-term care and elderly welfare policies, directly addressing Kaohsiung's growing aging population. With over 560,000 elderly residents—exceeding the national average—Ko's 'All-Age Security' policy goes beyond traditional welfare expansions. Instead, it builds a comprehensive elderly care system covering long-term care capacity, family support, transportation, and healthcare, ensuring policies meet seniors' real-life needs.

For example, Ko proposes increasing the senior citizen card benefit to 1,000 points per month and expanding its use. Seniors could use these points at farmers' and fishermen's associations for shopping or deduct them from medical fees at hospitals. On long-term care, she advocates for boosting manpower, ensuring equitable distribution of neighborhood care stations and day-care centers, and increasing supply of integrated elderly housing and institutional care that combines 'long-term care, medical services, and community support'.

To address the 'caregiving burden' faced by many families, Ko proposes expanding respite care services and implementing medical accompaniment programs. She also plans to allocate NT$100 million to subsidize stair-climbing chairs for elderly residents in old apartments, helping them navigate stairs. For dual-elderly or 'one-elder-one-disabled' households, she advocates for free or subsidized AI assistive devices to enhance home safety.

Additionally, Ko proposes expanding subsidies for elderly vaccinations, increasing the number of long-term care shuttle vehicles, and improving the coverage of the 'Happiness Yellow Car' service—especially in rural areas. Her goal is to ensure seniors are not only 'cared for' but also able to leave their homes and maintain social engagement. In recent public speeches, Ko has often referenced her own age, stating, 'I am also at an age where I am considered elderly,' emphasizing that caring for seniors is ultimately about caring for our future selves. She envisions Kaohsiung as a city where seniors can live with dignity and peace of mind.

Ko Chih-en's 'All-Age Security' policy constructs a comprehensive elderly care system across long-term care, family support, transportation, and healthcare. (Photo by Hsu Ping-wen)

'Nakasi Concerts at Temple Squares' Build Grassroots Connections

Observations show Ko has significantly increased face-to-face interactions with middle-aged and elderly voters. She has been touring Kaohsiung's districts, hosting 'Nakasi Concerts at Temple Squares'—a deliberate shift from traditional large rallies. By bringing the stage to local temple grounds, she uses relatable music and casual dialogue to connect with seniors' daily lives. Audience responses indicate high acceptance among middle-aged and elderly attendees, allowing Ko to build personal rapport beyond policy, significantly narrowing the gap with elderly voters.

This trend is evident in her recent public appearances. At a Model Father Commendation Ceremony, many families brought their elders and children to take photos with Ko, reflecting the goodwill she has cultivated through years of advocacy on education and elderly issues, now translating into tangible support.

With voting still some time away, a single poll cannot determine the final outcome. As Ko continues to strengthen her long-term care policy messaging and grassroots campaign, how the green camp consolidates its elderly base and how the blue camp extends this elderly advantage to caregivers and middle-aged families will be key indicators in the upcoming Kaohsiung mayoral race.