Registration closed for Taiwan's 2026 local elections, and Pingtung's top races are now head-to-head fights between the DPP and the KMT, with slightly fewer candidates overall than four years ago.

• The county's top job pits DPP incumbent Chou Chun-mi against the KMT's Su Ching-chuan, who is running for a third time.
• In Pingtung City, KMT mayor Chou Chia-chi is defending her seat against DPP county councillor Liang Yu-tzu.
• 87 people registered for county council, down from 101 last time, competing for 55 seats.
• Across all local posts, 1,558 people registered, 47 fewer than four years ago, and several rural townships have only one candidate — meaning no real contest.

Outlook: Candidate lists are finalized by mid-October, ballot numbers are drawn Oct. 23, and voting takes place Nov. 28.