A New Taipei City councilor from Hou Yu-ih's political camp has filed to run again, a routine but telling sign that campaigning for the 2026 local elections is now underway.

• Lu Chia-kai, a Kuomintang councilor and protégé of New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, registered his re-election bid with the city election commission.
• He filed on his birthday, the same date he first registered four years ago, and skipped any celebration to do it.
• His district covers Tucheng, Shulin, Sanxia and Yingge, where he has pushed for local building projects, transport and schools.
• He is running on a record of constituent service and promises to keep chasing infrastructure for the area.

Outlook: Registration season is opening across Taiwan, and New Taipei's council races will firm up as more candidates file in the coming weeks.