Seven candidates have crowded into Kinmen's next magistrate election, with Kuomintang legislator Chen Yu-jen holding a stable lead — a distinctly unfavourable picture for the other, independent, contenders.

• Chen Yu-jen has the deepest electoral record of the seven, having served three terms as a county councillor and three terms as a legislator, giving her the longest record of local groundwork.
• Former magistrate Yang Chen-wu has decided not to run, allowing the pan-blue camp to avoid fighting among its own — in effect paving the way for Chen Yu-jen.
• Independent former deputy magistrate Li Wen-liang ranks second in momentum, having built support among the younger generation within the civil service through his approachability and decisive style.
• The remaining five independent candidates each have professional backgrounds, but without party backing and with limited name recognition, they face an uphill campaign.
• Local rumour has it that some have deliberately encouraged multiple candidacies in order to dilute Li Wen-liang's vote, so that he cannot later leverage a strong showing to contest a legislative by-election.

Outlook: The race is expected to centre on a two-way contest between Chen Yu-jen and Li Wen-liang, with the real struggle likely to carry over into the legislative by-election that follows.