The 2026 mayoral and magistrate elections are approaching, and based on past voting patterns, the political landscape still reflects the familiar divide of “blue in the north, green in the south.” However, a closer look at several key counties and cities reveals that the outlook for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is not as optimistic as before. If the party leadership fails to respond, the Kuomintang (KMT) may capture several southern regions, threatening the DPP’s governing foundation.
The first case is Yunlin County. Although Yunlin has long been a DPP stronghold, the region has gradually shifted blue under KMT magistrate Chang Li-shan. The key factor lies in the Chang family’s deep local penetration. Former magistrate Su Chih-fen has warned that many former green-camp local factions have now been absorbed by the Chang network. Additionally, agriculture in Yunlin has not experienced the same growth as the AI sector elsewhere, leading to dissatisfaction with the ruling party. The Chang family now wields overwhelming influence in Yunlin. If the DPP wishes to win the county back, it still has much groundwork to do.
Next is Tainan City, currently embroiled in an intensifying “Hsu vs. Chen battle.” Lin Chun-hsien, a direct political ally of President Lai Ching-te, enjoys strong backing from the central government, yet polls show him trailing Chen Ting-fei. One reason is that the “former mayor” political brand no longer holds the same power in today’s Tainan. Meanwhile, Chen Ting-fei—once a rival of Lai within the party—has unexpectedly attracted voters who support the DPP but oppose Lai.
Both candidates face significant challenges. Lin Chun-hsien’s strong affiliation with Lai could alienate voters if anti-Lai sentiment grows in Tainan, possibly driving swing voters toward the KMT. If Chen Ting-fei wins the nomination, she may not receive full support from the DPP leadership, making a head-to-head contest with a united blue-white opposition difficult. In the previous election, KMT’s Hsieh Long-jie already secured over 40% of the vote, and this time he is expected to grow even stronger. Furthermore, the DPP’s stronghold in the Sibei district was severely hit by recent storms, possibly shaking its voter base. To retain Tainan, the DPP must address growing public dissatisfaction.
As for Kaohsiung, the DPP’s primary race has drawn even more media attention. Each candidate carries clear weaknesses and has recently been hit by controversies. Chiu Yi-ying, currently leading in polls, has been damaged by the “Meinong Grand Canyon” incident. Lai Ruilong, also a frontrunner, is now embroiled in a “child bullying” scandal, clouding his campaign prospects. Lin Tai-hua faces allegations of misusing assistant fees and now trails behind the other two; she may even run as an independent.
Compared with the KMT, which has consolidated around Ko Chih-en, the DPP candidates each face distinct disadvantages: Chiu Yi-ying’s confrontational style alienates centrist voters; Lai Ruilong is steady but lacks strong momentum; Lin Tai-hua attracts the broadest spectrum of voters but is disliked by core green supporters.
Although Kaohsiung has made impressive progress in recent years—with major concerts and TSMC establishing a facility in Nanzih—the former Kaohsiung County areas have not experienced similar improvement. Instead, they have faced environmental controversies such as illegal waste dumping. Industries in Gangshan, particularly screws and hardware, face employment pressure due to high tariffs and Chinese undercutting. While macroeconomic indicators look strong, the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises must not be overlooked.
Chiayi and Pingtung remain relatively stable for the DPP, yet disparities in regional development persist across Taiwan. These areas must prioritize industrial transformation and align with emerging economic trends. Ultimately, economic performance is the most convincing political report card.
The DPP is facing growing challenges in southern Taiwan, and the recent passage of the fiscal redistribution bill has intensified dissatisfaction. The central leadership must listen more carefully to public sentiment and address problems directly. Otherwise, the DPP’s once-proud southern stronghold may lose its shine.
Author: Newcongress