Ko Wen-je's strongest stronghold 'collapses' in Hsinchu under Huang Kuo-chang's watch, says commentator

Political commentator Wu Jing-yi asserts that Ko Wen-je's strongest political base in Hsinchu County is crumbling, attributing the decline to the campaign strategies of Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang. Wu claims that the TPP's support in Hsinchu County has seen a structural collapse, with young, tech-savvy voters in Zhubei City, a key TPP stronghold, now shifting their allegiance to the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Cheng Chao-fang.

Wu's analysis, based on recent polls, indicates a significant drop in TPP support in Hsinchu County, once considered the TPP's "strongest fortress." While Ko Wen-je secured a high vote share in Hsinchu County in the 2024 presidential election, Wu argues this support has not translated into a stable organizational base for the TPP. The commentator points to Zhubei City, where Ko previously won decisively, as evidence of this erosion, noting that young voters are not moving to the Kuomintang (KMT) but are instead supporting the incumbent DPP mayor, Cheng Chao-fang.

Local sources suggest that the independent-minded young and tech-immigrant voters in Zhubei, who previously sought an alternative to the traditional blue-green political parties, are reacting negatively to the TPP's perceived shift towards the KMT under Huang Kuo-chang's leadership. This "little blue" alignment, as described by Wu, is reportedly causing these voters to disengage from the TPP, becoming neutral or even drifting away.

Wu further contends that the "blue-white alliance" (KMT-TPP cooperation) is failing at the grassroots level, diminishing the TPP's influence as a "kingmaker." She predicts that the erosion of TPP support in Hsinchu County will likely spread to northern Miaoli, potentially influencing the outcome of upcoming local elections and impacting the next presidential race. Wu suggests that Hsinchu and Miaoli may see a disruption of traditional local political organizations.