Taiwan's Taichung mayoral race is heating up as both major-party candidates court voters with welfare, industry, and market-upgrade promises — good news for local vendors and older residents if the pledges hold.

• KMT candidate Chiang Chi-chen is promising vaccine subsidies for vulnerable seniors, big yearly spending to fix aging school bathrooms, and wider use of the senior benefit card at gyms, pharmacies, and clinics.
• On industry, he wants to pair Taichung's machinery makers with AI to build robots and unmanned vehicles, framing himself as continuing outgoing mayor Lu Shiow-yen's policies at a faster pace.
• DPP candidate Ho Hsin-chun campaigned in the rain at Shuinan traditional market, pledging to tap central government money to fix up market conditions and bring in more shoppers.
• She pointed to a national plan starting in 2027 that adds yearly funding to upgrade markets, night markets, and shopping districts, including digital payment systems.

Outlook: Expect both camps to keep competing over social welfare spending and central-government funding as the campaign runs toward election day.