Kaohsiung mayoral race enters tight contest between Ke Chih-en and Lai Jui-lung

The 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election has entered a highly competitive phase. According to the latest ETtoday poll, Kuomintang candidate Ke Chih-en leads Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Jui-lung by a narrow margin of 0.3 percentage points, with Ke at 43.8% and Lai at 43.5%. While Ke holds a slight lead in support, Lai maintains a higher favorability rating of 49.4% compared to Ke's 40.0%, suggesting the race remains a tight contest within the margin of error.

Political tensions have escalated as candidates engage in various controversies. In Taipei, mayoral candidate Shen Po-yang drew attention for wearing a bulletproof vest while jogging in Tokyo, citing security concerns due to being wanted by mainland China. Meanwhile, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has responded to polling claims regarding his competition by focusing on municipal achievements.

In Kaohsiung, the race has also seen localized friction, including a political dispute involving a Bib Gourmand restaurant. Additionally, political commentators have noted that Ke Chih-en's ability to convert poll advantages into actual votes will depend heavily on voter turnout, which is expected to be a critical factor in the final outcome.