KMT Legislator's Campaign Shift Sparks Backlash Among Local Chiayi Supporters

Wang Yu-min, a legislator-at-large for the Kuomintang (KMT) and head of its Chiayi County branch, has resigned from her local post to serve as the campaign director for a fellow party member running for mayor in Taichung. This move has sparked strong criticism and a sense of betrayal among KMT grassroots supporters in Chiayi, who feel the party is neglecting local cultivation in favor of shifting political alliances.

Wang's political career has seen several shifts. She ran for Chiayi County magistrate in 2022, losing to the incumbent. Subsequently, she was appointed as the deputy mayor of Taichung under Mayor Lu Shiow-yen. In 2024, she was placed on the KMT's national at-large list and elected to the legislature, only to resign her deputy mayoral position after just over a year. Her latest decision to leave her Chiayi County leadership role with only three months until the local elections has been labeled as "running away" by some within the party.

The KMT's decision to support an independent candidate for Chiayi County magistrate, rather than nominating their own, coupled with Wang's departure, has created a vacuum. The dual role of overseeing both Chiayi County and City election efforts now falls to Tsai Ming-hsien, the chairman of the Chiayi City party committee, raising concerns about divided focus. Many local KMT members express a desire for the party to invest in long-term local development and talent nurturing, rather than relying on high-profile figures who may prioritize other campaigns.