Hsinchu race heats up: Gao seeks re‑election, Ko and Zheng co‑campaign

The Hsinchu mayoral race has entered a fever‑pitch, with candidates from all camps making frequent moves. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) mayor Gao Hong‑an formally went to the Hsinchu City Election Commission on Tuesday to complete her candidacy registration. The registration drew considerable attention, not only because Gao, the incumbent mayor, is seeking re‑election, but also because the event featured a high‑profile, cross‑party escort. TPP founder and chairman Ko Wen‑je appeared together with Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson Zheng Li‑wen, a rare joint appearance, to publicly support Gao at the commission. Their presence highlighted a subtle yet close interaction between the blue (KMT) and white (TPP) camps in local elections, adding fresh drama to an already heated mayoral contest.

Gao’s decision to make a conspicuous debut on registration day carries obvious political calculations. Ko Wen‑je, who built his political career in Hsinchu, regards the city as a strategic stronghold that the TPP cannot afford to lose. Zheng Li‑wen’s personal attendance underscored the concrete cooperation between the KMT and TPP at the grassroots level. By gathering the two party leaders in Hsinchu, the move not only bolsters Gao’s campaign platform and consolidates the support base of both the pan‑blue and TPP factions, but also sends voters a strong signal of integration, aiming to cement Gao’s governing advantage and electoral momentum in the city.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) camp, unwilling to be outflanked, is also mobilising. DPP mayoral hopeful Zhuang Jing‑cheng is slated to visit the election commission on Wednesday to file his registration, officially kicking off the sprint phase of his campaign. Zhuang’s team has taken a steady, methodical approach, recently unveiling a comprehensive set of campaign themes and policy proposals that outline their vision for Hsinchu’s future development. By presenting concrete municipal blueprints and detailed policy “meat,” they hope to win the broad support of Hsinchu’s citizens and carve a path through the blue‑white coalition’s pressure.

Hsinchu has long been a battleground in Taiwanese politics, with an electorate characterised by high education levels, high incomes and a youthful demographic. Voters in the city tend to rely less on traditional party loyalties or ideology and place greater emphasis on a candidate’s personal competence, policy substance and tangible contributions to urban development. In this context, whether Gao’s campaign leverages cross‑party star power to amplify her momentum, or Zhuang’s team advances a clear policy platform to win voter confidence, both sides will need to present substantive policies that meet the needs of Hsinchu’s high‑tech city status in order to truly resonate with the electorate.

As the main candidates complete their registration procedures, the highly watched Hsinchu mayoral race has officially entered an intense competitive phase. Observers will watch to see whether the blue‑white alliance can produce a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts, or whether DPP candidate Zhuang Jing‑cheng can overtake his rivals through a steady pace and clear messaging. The outcome will not only shape the local political landscape but could also have far‑reaching implications for Taiwan’s overall political configuration, as voters scrutinise every candidate’s performance with keen interest.

(Source: Central News Agency)