TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The TVBS Poll Center (TVBS民調中心) released its latest survey on Friday (Jan. 23), revealing that 60% of Taichung residents are satisfied with Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's (盧秀燕) administration. Lu is considered a strong Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), Taiwan's main opposition party, candidate for the 2028 presidential election, potentially posing a challenge to incumbent President Lai Ching-te (賴清德). Taichung is Taiwan's second-largest city by population.
In previous polls, Lu consistently achieved high satisfaction ratings. The recent survey indicates that 24% of Taichung citizens are very satisfied with her governance, while 36% are somewhat satisfied. This reflects a 6-percentage-point drop from the 66% satisfaction rate she enjoyed two years into her tenure. The dissatisfaction rate has surged by 14 percentage points to 25%, with 14% expressing slight dissatisfaction and 11% being very dissatisfied, the highest recorded in past surveys.
Lu's overall satisfaction level remains at 60%, but the increased dissatisfaction mirrors the 24% rate seen during her first 100 days in office. The 2026 Taichung mayoral election remains highly watched as the city is a key battleground for both major parties. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party, has confirmed legislator Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) as its candidate for Taichung mayor.
The KMT has yet to decide between Vice President of the Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) and legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔) for its mayoral candidate. The latest TVBS poll shows 54% of Taichung residents support Chiang, compared to 20% for Yang, revealing a 34-percentage-point gap. The survey was conducted among Taichung residents. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.6)