Taiwan's Chiayi County is heading into a rare contest that pits a DPP lawmaker against a KMT-backed independent, in a county the DPP has held for 25 years.

• DPP legislator Tsai Yi-yu and Puzi Mayor Wu Pin-jui both registered to run for Chiayi County magistrate.
• Wu is running as an independent but has KMT backing, and is campaigning on ending a quarter-century without a change in ruling party.
• Tsai is running on the economy, promising a "golden decade" for Chiayi built on new tech companies moving in.
• Wu brought a Mazu statue to her registration and pitched herself as a fresh choice free of party machinery.
• Sitting magistrate Weng Chang-liang endorsed Tsai, saying he has the stronger team behind him.

Outlook: The race is shaping up as a test of whether the DPP's long grip on Chiayi can survive a KMT-backed challenger running without the party label.