The race for Miaoli County magistrate has formally taken shape, with the two leading candidates from the Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang having completed or prepared their registrations — the start of an uphill battle in a county governed by the blue camp.

• DPP candidate Chen Pin-an completed his registration on the 2nd, campaigning on professional governance of the county and on connecting with central government resources.
• Incumbent magistrate Chung Tung-chin of the KMT is scheduled to register on the 3rd in his bid for re-election.
• Chen Pin-an has put forward a "Happy Miaoli 345 Governance Blueprint," emphasising balanced urban and rural development and sustainable welfare, and has called for tearing off the negative label of the "Kingdom of Miaoli."
• Chung Tung-chin, for his part, is campaigning on his record in attracting investment, promoting smart manufacturing and the net-zero transition, and aims to turn Miaoli into an internationally competitive technology city.
• The green camp staged its rally with "Team Miaoli" baseball uniforms, with Yeh Chu-lan wearing a campaign sash and appearing on stage, projecting momentum from its integration of county councillor and township chief candidates.

Outlook: The main lines of the race are largely set — the incumbent running on industrial achievements, the challenger on central government resources and a turnaround in image. What comes next depends on grassroots mobilisation and the direction taken by local factions.