Taiwan's third-largest party is making an organized push into Taoyuan's local elections, a neutral-to-positive sign for its bid to stay relevant between blue and green.

• Four Taiwan People's Party candidates registered together for Taoyuan city council seats, campaigning in the rain as a single team.
• The party wants all four to win so it can form its own caucus in the Taoyuan council.
• The candidates plan to invite Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng to campaign with them and back his re-election.
• Party leaders pitch themselves as a practical, reasonable alternative to Taiwan's two dominant parties.
• Chen Pei-chi, wife of party founder Ko Wen-je, had planned to join the registration but pulled out after catching COVID.

Outlook: Expect the party to lean on ties with Chang and the council speaker as it builds toward the local elections.