1994 Taiwanese local elections

1994 Taiwanese local elections

3 December 1994 (1994-12-03)
Provincial election
Turnout	76.15%
Candidate James Soong Chen Ding-nan Party Kuomintang DPP Popular vote 4,726,012 3,254,887 Percentage 56.22% 38.72%
Election result in township division   James Soong   Chen Ding-nan
Municipal election
2 mayors of special municipalities
Majority party Minority party   Leader Lee Teng-hui Shih Ming-teh Party Kuomintang DPP Mayors 1 1

Provincial and municipal elections were held in Taiwan on 3 December 1994, electing the Governor of Taiwan Province, and mayor of two special municipalities (Taipei and Kaohsiung).

This is the first election for all three posts, ^[1] and the only one for the governorship of the later-streamlined Taiwan Province.

Kuomintang (KMT) was elected in Taiwan Province and Kaohsiung, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) captured the capital city.

Taiwan Province

Since the retreat of Kuomintang's regime from mainland China to Taiwan, the head of the Taiwan Province was appointed by the central government due to martial law in place.

In 1994, the new Province and County Autonomy Act (Chinese :省縣自治法) was enacted, the chairmanship of Taiwan Provincial Government was replaced by elected governorship of Taiwan Province.

James Soong of the KMT, then-chairman of Taiwan Provincial Government, was nominated to continue heading the province. The DPP endorsed Chen Ding-nan, member of Legislative Yuan and former Yilan Magistrate.

Soong was elected in a landslide, winning 56% of votes, while the party also secured a majority in the Provincial Council.

Governor of Taiwan Province

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	James Soong	Kuomintang	4,726,012	56.22
	Chen Ding-nan	Democratic Progressive Party	3,254,887	38.72
	Ju Gau-jeng	New Party	362,377	4.31
	蔡正治	Independent	37,256	0.44
	吳梓	Independent	25,398	0.30
Total			8,405,930	100.00
Valid votes			8,405,930	98.69
Invalid/blank votes			111,194	1.31
Total votes			8,517,124	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			11,184,258	76.15

Council of Taiwan Province

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Kuomintang	4,223,995	51.03	48
	Democratic Progressive Party	2,693,353	32.54	23
	New Party	309,648	3.74	2
	Independent	1,051,015	12.70	6
Total		8,278,011	100.00	79
Valid votes		8,278,011	97.62
Invalid/blank votes		202,030	2.38
Total votes		8,480,041	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		11,111,460	76.32

Taipei City

Mayoral result according to districts

  Won by Chen Shui-bian

  Won by Jaw Shaw-kong

Taipei City was long seen as the stronghold of Kuomintang as many civil servants and Chinese migrants (or Waishengren ) resided there. ^[2] Between 1951 and 1967, Taipei, then a provincial city, had an elected mayor, ^[3] and majority were Tangwai locals. After upgraded to a special municipality, Taipei has been headed by government-appointed indigenous mayors. ^[4]

KMT chose then-mayor Huang Ta-chou for re-election, while the DPP held a party primary for nomination. After legislator Frank Hsieh lost the first round of the primary and subsequently withdrew, Chen Shui-bian was selected to challenge Huang. ^[5] New Party nominated legislator Jaw Shaw-kong.

Due to vote splitting within the pan-blue coalition between Huang and Jaw, Chen was elected with nearly 44% of votes, ending KMT's 22-year rule in the capital. However, KMT was able to win a plurality in the city council.

Mayor of Taipei City

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Chen Shui-bian	Democratic Progressive Party	615,090	43.67
	Jaw Shaw-kong	New Party	424,905	30.17
	Huang Ta-chou	Kuomintang	364,618	25.89
	紀榮治	Independent	3,941	0.28
Total			1,408,554	100.00
Valid votes			1,408,554	98.72
Invalid/blank votes			18,298	1.28
Total votes			1,426,852	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			1,816,986	78.53

Council of Taipei City

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Kuomintang	544,670	39.05	20
	Democratic Progressive Party	419,505	30.08	18
	New Party	302,409	21.68	11
	China Loyal Justice Party (中國忠義黨)	66	0.00	0
	Independent	128,029	9.18	3
Total		1,394,679	100.00	52
Valid votes		1,394,679	98.02
Invalid/blank votes		28,241	1.98
Total votes		1,422,920	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,811,825	78.54

Kaohsiung City

Mayoral result according to districts

  Won by Wu Den-yih with more than 60% of votes

  Won by Wu Den-yih with less than 60% of votes

Kaohsiung had long been ruled by the Kuomintang except for a few years. In this election, KMT's candidate Wu Den-yih, former Nantou Magistrate, won 54% of votes and was leading in all districts of Kaohsiung. The KMT also obtained a majority in the council, consolidating the rule.

Mayor of Kaohsiung City

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Wu Den-yih	Kuomintang	400,766	54.46
	Chang Chun-hsiung	Democratic Progressive Party	289,110	39.29
	湯阿根	New Party	25,413	3.45
	施鐘响	Independent	13,084	1.78
	鄭德耀	Independent	7,513	1.02
Total			735,886	100.00
Valid votes			735,886	98.58
Invalid/blank votes			10,583	1.42
Total votes			746,469	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			926,318	80.58

Council of Kaohsiung City

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Kuomintang	337,677	46.28	23
	Democratic Progressive Party	181,330	24.85	11
	New Party	35,138	4.82	2
	Labor Party	1,563	0.21	0
	Independent	173,960	23.84	8
Total		729,668	100.00	44
Valid votes		729,668	96.67
Invalid/blank votes		25,107	3.33
Total votes		754,775	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		923,456	81.73

References

1. "Multiparty Democratic Values Can Also Be Asian Values". Free China Review. 1 February 1995. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
2. 施, 正鋒. "台灣族群政治". World Unified Formosans for Independence. Archived from the original on 2009-06-10.
3. 薛, 化元 (2009-09-24). "臺灣省各縣市實施地方自治綱要". Encyclopedia of Taiwan. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
4. 王, 景弘 (2010-03-09). "台北市長．台北市民". Liberty Times. Archived from the original on 2010-04-13.
5. 呂, 政達 (1995). 謝長廷－人生這條路. 大村文化出版. p. 326. ISBN   957-9356-72-6.