DPP lawmakers take command roles in Taiwan's local election campaigns
Taiwan's ruling DPP is putting its sitting lawmakers in charge of campaign headquarters across the island ahead of the year-end local elections, a sign the party is going all-in on organization and unity.
- With the nine-in-one local elections closing in, the DPP is merging its national parliamentary messaging with local ground operations.
- Lawmakers are no longer just showing up to rally crowds — they are running campaigns as chairs, chief officers, and strategy advisers.
- In Taichung, caucus leader Tsai Chi-chang is chairing Ho Shin-chun's campaign headquarters; in Taipei, Wu Si-yao is chief officer for mayoral candidate Puma Shen.
- New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Miaoli, and Taitung all have similar setups, with at-large lawmakers handling policy and publicity.
- A touring squad of at-large lawmakers has been formed to back the party's nine female candidates for city and county chief.
Outlook: The DPP is betting that early nominations and a unified lawmaker-led structure will hold its base together through the year-end vote.