TAIPEI (TVBS News) — After four months of internal conflict that threatened party unity, the opposition Kuomintang on Tuesday (March 31) named Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) as its Taichung mayoral candidate, ending a contest the party could only resolve through polling.
Chiang, deputy speaker of the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, thanked his rival in a statement to reporters, around one hour after the result was announced. "I want to especially thank Sister Chiung-ying for her efforts and dedication during this period," Chiang said. "She was very gracious, saying that for greater Taichung's future, we must unite and strive for ultimate victory."
Chiang did not attend the 9:30 a.m. press conference where the result was announced, citing his duties presiding over a Legislative Yuan session. He sent a staff representative to receive the announcement. Chiang has not indicated whether he will resign as deputy speaker to campaign, nor has he responded to opposition criticism that he is blocking the central government budget while seeking the mayorship.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Taichung City Council caucus convener, Chou Yung-hung (周永鴻), said Chiang's immediate priority should be expediting passage of the central government budget. "If you want to run for mayor, you cannot claim to care about citizens while blocking the budget in the legislature," Chou told the Liberty Times. "This is the classic case of saying one thing and doing another."
The KMT did not disclose specific poll numbers, announcing only that Chiang had prevailed. KMT Secretary-General Lee Chien-lung (李乾龍) said both camps had agreed beforehand to keep the margin confidential. The decision to withhold detailed results may fuel speculation about how competitive the race actually was.
Su Po-hsing (蘇柏興), chairman of the KMT's Taichung chapter, said the poll mechanism was essential for integration. "If we hadn't gone through the poll, it would have been even harder to unite, because neither side would have accepted the other," Su told the United Daily News. He described the contest as relatively peaceful and expressed confidence in unifying the party before November.
The contest began in late November when Yang announced her candidacy, surprising party insiders who had expected Chiang to run unopposed. The two legislators held their first coordination meeting on Jan. 16 but failed to reach consensus. The KMT central committee agreed in February to settle the nomination through an internal poll, conducted from Saturday to Monday (March 28-30).
The result sets up a November showdown with the DPP's candidate, legislator Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純), in a race that could shape the political future of incumbent Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕). Political analysts suggest Lu needs not merely a KMT victory but a decisive one to maintain momentum toward a potential 2028 presidential bid.
A January 2026 TVBS poll showed Chiang leading Ho by 15 percentage points, 46% to 31%, in a hypothetical matchup. However, the same poll revealed a significant shift among young voters. Support for Ho among voters aged 20-29 surged from 22% to 44%, exceeding Chiang's 35% in that demographic.
Ho, who was recruited by the DPP in October 2025, said she was prepared for a head-to-head contest. "I hope to have a competition with Chiang over who can bring more progress to this city," Ho said at an event in Taichung's Houli District on Tuesday.
The primary is over, but the question it was meant to answer — whether the KMT can present a united front in Taichung — remains open. Yang has pledged her support, and party officials express confidence. Yet the decision to withhold the margin of victory suggests the party is not yet ready to reveal how deep the divisions ran. The November election will provide the answer the primary did not. ◼