Hsinchu's mayoral contest is heating up early, with both main candidates using soft, low-key outreach rather than direct attacks — neutral for voters, but a sign the race is already in full swing.

• Incumbent mayor Kao Hung-an, running for re-election, rolled out her first batch of campaign merchandise: T-shirts, baseball caps, drip coffee bags and tote bags.
• The gear leans on a baseball-fan theme built around her "Good afternoon, Hsinchu" slogan, sold both separately and as a bundle, aimed at rallying supporters.
• Her Democratic Progressive Party challenger, Chuang Ching-cheng, is working neighborhoods instead with parent-and-child events.
• Chuang's next event is a drone soccer session hosted with the science park industry association, with plans for a permanent drone soccer venue in the city.
• The drone pitch ties into Hsinchu's tech base — chips, telecoms, software and AI — framing him as the candidate for the science-park economy.

Outlook: Expect both camps to keep building name recognition through merchandise and community events well before the campaign turns combative.