TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Puma Shen announced his bid for Taipei mayor on Wednesday (May 13), challenging incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安). Early polling shows Shen trailing the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) mayor by more than 23 percentage points.
A survey by the Taiwan Brain Trust (TBT, 新台灣國策智庫), a local think tank, found Chiang leading with 52.9% support compared to Shen's 29.7%. Another 17.4% of respondents said they were undecided. The poll also showed Chiang with a favorability rating of 57.5%, compared to Shen's 36.2%.
The wide margin underscores the challenge facing Shen as he attempts to flip Taiwan's capital, a traditional KMT stronghold, ahead of local elections. Chiang is seeking a second term as mayor.
The same survey found that local governance issues weigh heavily on voters. Following reports of a hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, approximately 49.2% of respondents described Taipei's rat problem as serious. When asked which candidate was better equipped to address the issue, 39.4% selected Chiang, compared to 22.4% for Shen.
The race remains in its early stages and could shift depending on campaign developments and voter turnout. Current polling suggests Chiang retains stronger name recognition and broader public approval heading into the election season. ◼
