KMT Keeps New Taipei

Re-election-seeking KMT New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu defeated DPP contender Yu Shyi-kun by only a narrow margin, surprising many observers who had expected the incumbent to enjoy a comfortable win.

Chu thanked his supporters, but expressed “sadness” over what he called the “complete” defeat of the KMT. He said he has heard the “angry roars” of the people.

The biggest surprise came in Taoyuan, where KMT incumbent Mayor Wu Chi-yang lost to DPP rival Cheng Wen-tsang, who had been fighting an uphill battle according to various pre-election public opinion polls.

In Taichung, DPP candidate Lin Chia-lung defeated KMT Mayor Jason Hu, ending the incumbent's 13-year stint as the central city's top administrator.

“We've waited for this moment for 10 years,” said Lin while addressing his supporters after preliminary results showed that he defeated the incumbent.

There were no surprises in the remaining two special municipalities, Tainan and Kaohsiung, with the DPP incumbent Mayors William Lai and Chen Chu, respectively, beating their challengers by wide margins.

The KMT also lost control of many of the local governments that have been its traditional strongholds, including Keelung.