Taiwan's Hsinchu City mayoral race is now a three-way fight, with the incumbent seeking re-election as an independent backed by an informal opposition alliance.

• Registration closed with three candidates: sitting mayor Kao Hung-an, the DPP's Chuang Ching-cheng, and independent Ho Chih-yung.
• Kao is running without a party label but has support from the KMT–TPP "blue-white" tie-up as she pushes for a second term.
• Chuang is the only candidate with a formal party nomination behind him.
• Ho comes from the KMT camp but registered without party approval and could face party discipline.
• The city council race drew 56 registrations for 35 seats, with the eastern district alone fielding 19 candidates for 12 spots.

Outlook: The KMT must decide whether to punish Ho, whose independent run risks splitting the anti-DPP vote and complicating Kao's path to re-election.