The New Taipei mayoral race is under way, with the two leading candidates making their moves on the same day, offering benefits to seniors, parents and local voters alike.

• Democratic Progressive Party candidate Su Chiao-hui set up a dentists' support group and announced an increase in denture subsidies for the elderly on the spot, with up to NT$80,000 for lower-middle-income households and up to NT$120,000 for low-income households.
• She also proposed waiving co-payments for outpatient and inpatient care for children aged zero to six, and extending free fluoride treatment from age six to age twelve, saving parents money.
• Former Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, a dentist by training, has taken up the role of head of her advisory group, lending her his endorsement.
• Kuomintang candidate Li Si-chuan set up a religious support group the same day, and called for joining forces with the leaders of Taipei, Taoyuan and Keelung to fight the campaign together, recreating the winning formula of 2022.
• Li stressed that the nearly ten million people of Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan already form a single daily living area, citing the monthly transit pass scheme he promoted during his term as an example of such cooperation.

Outlook: Both sides will continue to raise the stakes on social welfare policies, and the KMT's cross-city alliance will be the main point of interest in this race.