Taiwan's local elections are being overshadowed by talk of the 2028 presidential race, and DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen wants the focus back on city issues.

• Shen campaigned in Taipei's Neihu district and said rivals should worry about November's mayoral vote, not who runs for president in 2028.
• His pitch is everyday stuff: cost of living, care for kids and the elderly, and help for young people starting businesses.
• He hit incumbent mayor Chiang Wan-an over a child abuse case, saying the city moved too slowly and did nothing to prevent it.
• His team launched a 100-day countdown push, betting that steady ground campaigning can flip the mayor's office.
• The opposition KMT is reportedly planning to split its votes strategically in the city council races.

Outlook: Expect the next 100 days to turn into a fight over whether Taipei's vote stays local or gets swallowed by 2028 presidential positioning.