Hsu Hsin-ying in Tears After Narrow Victory: KMT Primary Stunner in Hsinchu as Former Soong Chu-yu Running Mate Sets Sights on County Magistracy

Blue camp supporters in Hsinchu County have been on an emotional rollercoaster these past few days! The KMT's Hsinchu County primary results were finally announced on the 28th. After a fierce three-day battle involving opinion polls and final party member votes, Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying managed to edge out Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien with a razor-thin margin of just 1.268 percentage points – 50.634% to 49.366%. She will now represent the KMT in the year-end Hsinchu County magistrate election.

Comeback Victory Under the 70/30 Rule: Polls Overturn Party Member Vote Deficit

This primary was a cutthroat affair, using the KMT's "70% opinion polls, 30% party member vote" formula. In the party member vote held on the 28th, Chen Chien-hsien demonstrated his strong grassroots organisation, securing 2,870 votes for a rate of 56.775%, outpacing Hsu Hsin-ying's 2,185 votes (43.225%) by a solid 685 votes. Just when everyone thought Chen had it in the bag, the crucial opinion poll results flipped the script entirely. Hsu led across all three polling firms, and after weighted calculations, she clinched the comeback victory with a total approval rating of 50.634%.

Upon hearing the final result, Hsu Hsin-ying repeatedly blinked back tears on stage, her eyes reddening, before finally breaking down and reaching for a tissue. Her voice thick with emotion, she said the only words on her mind throughout this whole process were "humility and gratitude." She thanked the local residents who supported her in the phone polls, the party members who turned out to vote, and even extended her regards to her opponent, Chen Chien-hsien, stressing that with the primary over, everyone's focus should be on the future of Hsinchu County.

"This Isn't the Real Contest": Hsu Hsin-ying Sets Her Sights on the General Election

After composing herself somewhat, Hsu Hsin-ying showed the resilience she's built over years in politics. She rallied her supporters, saying they could celebrate tonight's victory, but tomorrow it was back to the campaign trail because the real test was just beginning. She framed the upcoming election as the "final boss battle," directly targeting the DPP candidate, who she claims will wield the full force of party, government, online troll armies, the judiciary, and the media. Her remarks not only showed her clear-eyed assessment of the tough race ahead but also swiftly pivoted the blue camp's energy from internal primary rivalry to a united front against the opposition.

Of course, Hsu Hsin-ying is no stranger to Hsinchu locals. With a PhD in civil engineering from National Chiao Tung University and the distinction of being Taiwan's first female PhD in satellite surveying, her political career has been quite dramatic. She won a legislative seat in 2012 with the highest vote count nationwide, left the KMT in 2015 to form the Minkuo Party, and even ran as James Soong's vice-presidential candidate in 2016. Though that bid was unsuccessful, it gave her national recognition. She rejoined the KMT in 2022 through the "Same Boat Project" and successfully returned to the Legislative Yuan in 2024. This time, she brings a wealth of campaign experience to her renewed challenge for the Hsinchu County magistrate seat.

Primary Battle Ends; Blue Camp Integration is the Next Crucial Step

Naturally, this primary wasn't without its share of controversy. Allegations flew back and forth, from Hsu's camp demanding a background review over Chen's alleged past disciplinary record, to Chen's camp accusing Hsu of violating the Civil Servants Election And Recall Act by releasing poll data and questioning her dual party membership. Now that the primary result is in and the Hsu Hsin-ying candidacy is confirmed, the spotlight shifts to whether the blue camp can successfully unify.

Chen Chien-hsien showed grace after the results were announced. Despite his strong showing in the party member vote, he simply said, "Go KMT, go Hsinchu County," putting a temporary end to this intense intra-party battle. Looking towards the year-end election, whether the KMT can hold onto Hsinchu County – a traditional blue-leaning stronghold – will depend on how Hsu Hsin-ying can integrate local factions and channel the energy from the primary's internal friction into a formidable force for the general election.

• Primary Result: Hsu Hsin-ying narrowly defeated Chen Chien-hsien with 50.634% to 49.366%.
• Key Turning Point: Despite losing the party member vote, she staged a comeback in the opinion polls, which accounted for 70%.
• Hsu Hsin-ying's Reaction: Overcome with emotion, she spoke of "humility and gratitude" and called for party unity.
• Chen Chien-hsien's Response: Showed statesmanship, urging support for the KMT.

Hsu Hsin-ying will carry the blue camp's hopes into the year-end Hsinchu County magistrate race. Whether she can recapture the momentum of her record-breaking legislative victory and once again win over voters after her journey through multiple political parties will be the key storyline in what promises to be a world-class battle for Hsinchu County.