The Kuomintang's Hsinchu City branch has taken markedly different approaches to two party members who pressed ahead with their election bids, working against Ho Chih-yung, who is challenging for the mayoralty, while proving relatively favourable to Huang Wen-cheng, who is seeking re-election as a city councillor.

• Ho Chih-yung completed his registration to run for Hsinchu mayor despite not obtaining a KMT letter of recommendation, and the city branch will convene a disciplinary committee meeting to handle the matter as soon as possible.
• He produced his party membership card showing 20 years of membership, stressing that he is a loyal party member and will not withdraw from the race even if he is disciplined or expelled.
• Huang Wen-cheng cannot be nominated under the party charter because of a guilty verdict at first instance, but the party branch has agreed to let him register as an independent candidate for city councillor for now.
• The branch's stated reasons for treating Huang Wen-cheng more leniently are that he cooperated with the party caucus over the past two terms and that the second-instance ruling is not yet final.
• Huang Wen-cheng may still maintain contact with the KMT and take part in subsequent campaign activities, effectively leaving room for him to return to the fold.

Outlook: Ho Chih-yung may face suspension of his party rights or expulsion, raising the risk of a split in the pan-blue vote in the Hsinchu mayoral election.