Taiwan's local elections are three months away, and a wave of candidates around 40 is reshaping the race — good news for parties courting young voters, awkward for the old guard.

• Puzi mayor Wu Pin-jui, in office since 28, is running for Chiayi County chief as an independent, backed on stage by KMT and TPP figures against 20 years of DPP rule there.
• Hsinchu mayor Kao Hung-an, who won at 38 as Taiwan's youngest city chief, got KMT backing for re-election, and the party is blocking rivals from its own ranks.
• Puma Shen, the DPP's Taipei candidate, drew the biggest online buzz after a night-market walkabout turned into a signature spat with mayor Chiang Wan-an's supporters.
• Youth policy is the common thread: cheap housing, childcare subsidies, and job plans aimed at keeping young people from leaving smaller counties.
• Separately, President Lai has promised cash handouts of NT$10,000 per person next year, and the KMT caucus is pushing for two or three times that.

Outlook: Expect the cash-handout fight and youth housing pledges to dominate campaigning as the parties finalize their slates.