Keelung mayoral race tightens as candidates prepare for registration

The Keelung mayoral race is intensifying as incumbent Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang and City Council Speaker Tung Tzu-wei prepare for their respective candidacy registrations. Recent polling indicates a tight contest, with Hsieh holding a 38.6% support rate compared to Tung’s 33.2%. Among voters who have definitely decided to vote, the margin narrows significantly to just 0.1 percentage points.

Demographic trends show a split in support: Tung maintains a clear advantage among voters under 40, particularly in the 20-29 age group, while Hsieh leads among voters aged 40 and above. The outcome of the election may depend on capturing undecided voters in the final months.

In terms of policy, Tung Tzu-wei has proposed transport reforms to alleviate commuting pressures between Keelung and Taipei. The plan involves increasing bus frequency on the 1813 route and reducing stops to speed up turnaround times. Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chang Dun-han has expressed central government support for these measures, promising to assist in accelerating the approval process with the Ministry of Transportation.