Taiwan's 2026 local elections have formally entered the registration stage. The Democratic Progressive Party is fielding Puma Shen in the capital, Taipei, with former president Tsai Ing-wen appearing in person to campaign for him — a sign that the green camp hopes to regain momentum in a difficult constituency.

• Accompanied by Tsai Ing-wen, Shen went to the Taipei City Election Commission to register his candidacy. Tsai presented him with a ship's wheel, a metaphor for holding a steady course and spotting risks early, and called on supporters to become the "ocean current" propelling the vessel forward.
• Shen criticised the current city government for saying only that it "has things under control," citing problems such as child abuse, traffic, tree felling and the reduction in the number of rubbish bins, and argued that Taipei needs comprehensive planning spanning more than a decade.
• The DPP's candidates in the five special municipalities registered collectively on the same day, with Su Chiao-hui, Huang Shih-chieh, Ho Hsin-chun and Lai Jui-lung holding a joint campaign rally as the race entered its final 90 days.
• Shen has already issued a debate challenge to incumbent mayor Chiang Wan-an, who has also been challenged to a debate by Lai Jui-lung after questioning the budget for Kaohsiung's Cianjhen Fishing Port.
• The campaign has spilled over onto campuses and the internet: a group chat for new National Chengchi University students was replaced with campaign images, and a student dormitory post was swarmed after attracting political comments — something the Kuomintang has denounced as an "online purge."

Outlook: The focus now is on whether Chiang Wan-an accepts the debate invitation, and whether the blue-green contest across Taipei and New Taipei can generate genuine momentum for an upset.