2026 Taiwanese local elections

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Local elections will be held in Taiwan on 28 November 2026 to elect county magistrates (city mayors), county (city) councilors, township mayors, township councilors and chiefs of villages (boroughs) in 6 municipalities and 16 counties (cities). Elected officials would serve a four-year term.

Background

The Democratic Progressive Party discussed candidate nomination procedures for the 2026 elections at the party congress held in June 2025. [1] In October 2025, the party named Wang Mei-hui its candidate for the Chiayi mayoralty, Chen Ying for the Taitung County magistracy, and Ho Hsin-chun for Mayor of Taichung. [2]

On 9 September 2025, the New Power Party, Taiwan Statebuilding Party, Taiwan Obasang Political Equality Party and Green Party Taiwan announced that their leaders, Claire Wang, Wang Hsing-huan, Lin Shih-han, and Joyance Wang, respectively, had formed an electoral coalition for the local election. [3]

The Kuomintang held its leadership election in October 2025. During her campaign, the winning candidate Cheng Li-wun indicated she would continue the KMT–TPP coalition  [ zh ], respect local decisions about candidacies and back incumbents for reelection. If the Taiwan People's Party and the Kuomintang nominated candidates for the same local office, a cross-party primary would be held to determine the best candidate. [4]

On 14 October 2025, the National Security Bureau reported to the legislature that election security measures had entered the planning stage, earlier than in previous election cycles. [5] On 31 October 2025, the Central Election Commission formally scheduled the elections for 28 November 2026. [6]

References

  1. Wen, Kuei-hsiang; Wu, Kuan-hsien (27 June 2025). "DPP national congress to discuss 2026 election nomination rules" . Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  2. "Candidate roll call". Taipei Times. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  3. Wang, Yang-yu; Wu, Kuan-hsien (9 September 2025). "Taiwan's smaller parties form alliance for 2026 local elections". Central News Agency. Retrieved 10 September 2025. Republished as: "Independence-leaning parties form an alliance". Taipei Times. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  4. Yang, Chun-Chieh (20 October 2025). "Cheng Li-wun Elected KMT Chair Amid Three Major Challenges". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  5. Wu, Che-yu; Shan, Shelley (15 October 2025). "NSB moves to foil China poll meddling". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  6. Lai, Yu-chen; Ko, Lin (31 October 2025). "Nov. 28 set as voting day for Taiwan's 2026 local elections". Central News Agency. Retrieved 31 October 2025. Republished as: "Nov. 28 set as voting day for Taiwan's 2026 local elections". Taipei Times. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.