Taiwan's ruling DPP is rolling out a unified slate in Kaohsiung ahead of the November local elections, a show of strength aimed at holding one of the party's strongest southern strongholds.

• Mayoral candidate Lai Jui-lung has teamed up with council speaker Kang Yu-cheng and 35 sitting councillors and candidates under a "Kaohsiung Alliance" banner.
• The group is being marketed with baseball-style player cards, timed to the official candidate registration opening.
• Lai is running as the successor to a line of DPP mayors stretching back through Chen Chi-mai and Chen Chu, promising to keep the city's development streak going.
• The stated goal is both the mayor's office and a majority in the city council, with campaigning planned across all 38 districts.

Outlook: Registration opens now and the vote lands on 28 November, so expect the opposition to counter with its own Kaohsiung slate within days.