A veteran KMT figure in Kaohsiung is stepping aside amid a corruption case, and the party is backing a newcomer in her place — a setback for the old guard, a boost for the party's bench.

• Tseng Li-yen, former Kaohsiung city council speaker, has confirmed she will not run for another council term.
• She was charged over allegedly claiming false assistant salaries and lost at both trial levels, with a 12-year sentence now under review at the top court.
• The KMT never formally dropped her, holding the seat open out of respect for her seniority, but also never nominated her.
• Tang Ju-ting, who had planned to run as an independent, joined the KMT and has now received the party's endorsement for the district.
• The district shrinks from eight seats to seven as the population falls, so both the KMT and the DPP will field three candidates each in a tighter race.

Outlook: The seat cut makes Qianzhen-Xiaogang one of Kaohsiung's most crowded fights, with two incumbents outside the main parties fighting to hold on.