KAohsiung’S 2026 MAYORAL RACE ENTERS A MORE INTENSE PHASE
The battle for Kaohsiung mayor is moving into a more visible campaign phase, with Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ko Chih-en preparing a major rally while Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Jui-lung focuses on a proposed sports infrastructure project.
Ko announced that she will hold her first major campaign rally of the election on September 19 in Fengshan, while Lai is pushing plans for a new professional gymnastics training facility at Mingzheng Elementary School.
The contrasting campaign events highlight the different strategies being used as the November local elections approach.
KO CHIH-EN SETS SEPTEMBER 19 FOR MAJOR FENGSHAN RALLY
Ko announced on September 14 that her first major rally will take place at 3 p.m. on September 19 near Fengshan West Station.
The KMT candidate described Fengshan as particularly important to her campaign and said the event would be about rebuilding the political momentum and grassroots support she has developed over the past four years.
The rally is expected to feature prominent KMT figures, including former Legislative Yuan president Wang Jin-pyng, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and New Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Chih-chuan.
Ko has described the event as part of a planned “North-South connection” involving political figures from northern Taiwan, with the campaign also looking toward broader coordination among candidates in the six special municipalities.
KO: NOT A REPEAT OF THE “HAN WAVE”
The choice of Fengshan has inevitably drawn comparisons with former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu, whose large-scale rallies became a defining feature of the city’s 2018 election.
Ko, however, has rejected the idea that she is simply trying to recreate the so-called “Han wave.”
Instead, she has framed the September 19 event as the beginning of her own campaign strategy and a chance to consolidate support across Kaohsiung.
She has also released campaign merchandise and a campaign song, “World Kaohsiung,” as she increases her public campaign presence.
LAI JUI-LUNG TAKES A DIFFERENT ROUTE
While Ko is preparing for a large political gathering, DPP candidate Lai Jui-lung is emphasizing concrete city development proposals.
Lai recently conducted another site inspection with officials and sports representatives regarding a proposed Kaohsiung City gymnastics training center at Mingzheng Elementary School.
The proposed facility is designed as a professional training base that could connect grassroots instruction with competitive training, coach development and sporting events.
According to the city’s planning figures cited by United Daily News, the project has an estimated total cost of approximately NT$150 million, with the central government being asked to provide 80% of the funding and the city covering the remainder.
MORE THAN A GYM: LAI PITCHES A LONG-TERM SPORTS INVESTMENT
Lai argues that Kaohsiung already has a foundation for developing gymnastics, with involvement from the city’s gymnastics committee and private clubs.
The proposed facility would be designed as a teaching and training venue, with accessibility, gender-friendly and family-friendly facilities incorporated into the planning.
Lai says the center could eventually host training programs, activities and competitions while helping Kaohsiung strengthen its position as a major gymnastics hub in southern Taiwan.
The sports message also fits into the broader attention on athletics in Kaohsiung ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. President Lai Ching-te recently visited Taiwan’s National Sports Training Center in Kaohsiung for a flag-presentation ceremony and highlighted increased medical, rehabilitation and support services for Taiwan’s athletes.
TWO CAMPAIGNS, TWO DIFFERENT MESSAGES
The latest developments reveal a clear contrast between the two campaigns.
Ko Chih-en is focusing on political energy, grassroots mobilization and building a broad opposition network, using a major rally to demonstrate organizational strength.
Lai Jui-lung is emphasizing infrastructure, sports development and the argument that continued government support can deliver more projects for Kaohsiung.
That contrast is likely to become increasingly important as candidates compete not only for party supporters but also for voters who want concrete plans for the city’s future.
THE RACE IS STILL WIDE OPEN
Kaohsiung has traditionally been a major stronghold of the DPP, making the mayoral contest particularly significant for the opposition KMT.
Ko is no stranger to the city’s mayoral race: she previously ran against Chen Chi-mai in the 2022 Kaohsiung mayoral election, when Chen won with about 58.1% of the vote and Ko received about 40.2%.
Her return to the race therefore gives the 2026 contest an element of political continuity, while the DPP is seeking to maintain its hold on the southern city through Lai Jui-lung.
Recent campaign activity suggests both sides are now moving more aggressively into the grassroots phase, with rallies, local organizations and policy announcements becoming increasingly prominent.
SEPTEMBER 19 COULD BECOME AN IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN MOMENT
Ko’s Fengshan rally will be closely watched because it provides a visible test of her campaign’s ability to mobilize supporters and generate momentum.
At the same time, Lai’s push for the gymnastics center allows the DPP campaign to keep attention on development issues rather than simply responding to opposition rallies.
With the election approaching, the contest is increasingly becoming a battle over who can define Kaohsiung’s next chapter—and whether voters respond more strongly to political change or promises of continued investment.
For now, the campaigns are taking different paths.
Ko Chih-en is trying to make the streets roar with political energy. Lai Jui-lung is betting that the next big Kaohsiung story should be built around people, sports and city infrastructure.
And as September 19 approaches, the size and impact of Ko’s first major rally could offer the clearest early signal yet of how much momentum the KMT can generate in one of Taiwan’s most closely watched mayoral contests.
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