Taiwan's opposition KMT is bleeding energy in messy internal contests, and that opens the door for the ruling DPP to fight the 2026 local elections to a draw — good for the DPP, bad for a KMT that has long dominated local government.

• The KMT's candidate selection has turned into a knockout fight between rivals inside the party.
• That infighting leaves winners bruised and losers unwilling to help, weakening the party before the real race.
• The DPP's target is an even split of Taiwan's 22 city and county seats — 11 each — which would be a big gain from its current handful.
• Local races decide who controls budgets, patronage, and the pipeline of future national candidates, so the stakes go well beyond city hall.

Outlook: Expect the KMT to spend the next weeks trying to patch up its primaries while the DPP presses its advantage in the most winnable swing counties.