Taiwan's ruling DPP is pushing a youth-heavy slate in New Taipei ahead of the 2026 local elections, a sign the party sees an opening in a city it has long struggled to win.

• Five DPP city councillors and candidates registered together on the second day of candidate sign-ups, jogging to the election office as a stunt to signal energy and speed.
• All five come from the same background — former legislative aides now running in their own right — and are tied to the party's New Tide faction.
• They are running as a package behind DPP New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui, promising faster action on stalled local projects.
• Polling cited by the group shows 45% of residents want a change of ruling party in New Taipei, the number the campaign is building its pitch around.
• Local grievances are the core message: traffic in Xizhi, tourism money for Jinshan and Wanli, a long-delayed development plan in Luzhou, and a large land redevelopment scheme in Xinzhuang.

Outlook: New Taipei is shaping up as one of the most closely watched mayoral fights of the 2026 election, with the DPP betting a coordinated young slate can flip a traditionally tough city.