Taiwan's ruling-adjacent opposition KMT is pulling its biggest local stars together to defend city halls in this month's local elections, a move that doubles as early positioning for the 2028 presidential race.

• KMT officials worry a wave of support for DPP Taipei candidate Puma Shen is spreading beyond Taipei into New Taipei and Taichung, threatening the party's grip on northern Taiwan.
• Three heavyweight incumbents—Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu—are campaigning across districts to rally the party's base alongside new KMT chair Cheng Li-wen.
• Hou is focused on defending New Taipei, Lu is juggling Taipei (as campaign chief for incumbent Mayor Chiang Wan-an) and her own Taichung race, and Han is barnstorming nationwide to project party unity.
• Separately, Taiwan People's Party figures Ko Wen-je and Huang Kuo-chang are campaigning for KMT candidates at the mayoral level even as the two parties compete against each other in local council races, adding friction to the alliance.

Outlook: Whether the three KMT stars appear together again before the November 28 vote is seen as a signal of party unity and a preview of how they might cooperate—or compete—heading into the 2028 presidential race.