The race for Hsinchu mayor has now formally taken shape, with the Democratic Progressive Party fielding Chuang Ching-cheng to challenge incumbent Kao Hung-an, who is seeking re-election. For Hsinchu voters, the contest amounts to a debate over how a technology city should be governed.

• DPP candidate Chuang Ching-cheng completed his registration accompanied by DPP legislator Ker Chien-ming, campaigning under the slogan "Restart Hsinchu."
• Chuang Ching-cheng has highlighted his background teaching at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and raising a family in Hsinchu, while criticising what he describes as stalled progress on some municipal construction projects.
• Kao Hung-an, who is seeking re-election, completed her registration the previous day accompanied by Ko Wen-je and Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun, signalling cooperation between the KMT and the Taiwan People's Party.
• After registering, Kao Hung-an carried on with her official schedule as usual, receiving a delegation from the Dutch province of Flevoland and signing a memorandum of understanding on digital transformation with LINE WORKS aimed at introducing AI tools into the city government.

Outlook: The campaign will centre on the pace of municipal construction and the administration's smart-city record, with the stability of KMT-TPP cooperation a key factor in whether Kao Hung-an wins re-election.