With the 2026 Nine-in-One elections approaching in 89 days, candidate registration officially kicks off this week, marking the escalation of political campaigns across parties. Media commentator Huang Weihan posted on Facebook, analyzing the current electoral landscape.
According to Huang, the Green Camp (DPP) currently leads in Changhua, Chiayi, and Yilan counties. Meanwhile, New Taipei, Hsinchu, and Taitung are in tight races, each considered a 50-50 contest. Among these, Huang emphasizes that New Taipei City is the most crucial.
He points out that United Daily News placed "Hou You-ih endorses Li Sichuan" as the top headline. "Isn't it normal for a sitting KMT mayor to support the party's candidate?" he questions. In contrast, would headlines like Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai endorsing Lai Jui-lung or Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che supporting Chen Ting-fei make front-page news? The disproportionate media attention, he argues, signals that New Taipei's race is exceptionally fierce and has become the centerpiece of this election.
Huang further notes that the Green Camp is aggressively targeting Taipei City, while the Blue Camp is fully mobilizing to reclaim Kaohsiung. Losing these traditional strongholds—considered "home turf" for each party—could force the party chairperson to resign. As for Keelung and Hualien, where public discussion remains limited, further observation is needed.
Regarding New Taipei, Huang stresses that the front-page coverage exemplifies the principle of "seeing the big picture from small details." The fact that a routine endorsement made headlines underscores the race's high stakes.
Additional reports from Storm Media include claims that the Taiwan People's Party's promise of electoral cooperation in Zhubei fell through, warnings of a potential political earthquake in Taoyuan due to KMT's weakening support, and internal polls showing Li Sichuan surpassing Su Chiao-hui in youth support ratings.
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- Source: PR Times
- Category: News