Hsin-Ying Hsu Triumphs in Emotional Upset! KMT Primary in Hsinchu County Sees Dramatic Turnaround, Former Soong Running Mate Set for Another Bid

It's been a rollercoaster ride for KMT supporters in Hsinchu County these past few days! The results of the party's primary for the Hsinchu County magistrate election were finally announced on the 28th. After a fierce three-day battle involving opinion polls and a final party member vote, Legislator Hsin-Ying Hsu narrowly defeated Deputy County Magistrate Chen Hsien-Hsien with a razor-thin margin of 50.634% to 49.366% — a difference of just 1.268 percentage points. She will now represent the KMT in the year-end election.

A Comeback via the 70-30 Rule: Falling Behind in Member Vote, Triumphing in Polls

The party's primary used a "70% opinion poll, 30% party member vote" formula, and the process was nothing short of intense. In the party member vote held on the 28th, Chen Hsien-Hsien demonstrated his strong grassroots organisation, securing 2,870 votes (56.775%) to Hsu's 2,185 (43.225%) — a lead of 685 votes. Just when it seemed Chen had it in the bag, the crucial opinion poll results were released, and the situation completely reversed. Hsu led across all three polling firms, ultimately achieving a come-from-behind victory with a total weighted approval rating of 50.634%.

When the results were announced, Hsu, visibly emotional, blinked rapidly on stage, her eyes welling up with tears. She eventually pulled out a tissue, overcome. With a choked voice, she said that through this entire period, her focus had been on just five words: "humility and gratitude." She thanked the local residents who supported her via the phone polls and the party members who went out to vote. She also extended her respects to her opponent, Chen Hsien-Hsien, stressing that the primary was over and that their shared goal was Hsinchu County's future.

"This Internal Win Isn't the Real Victory": Hsu Sets Sights on the General Election

After composing herself slightly, Hsu showed the resilience gained from years in politics. She told her supporters to celebrate the win for only one night, as the real battle had just begun. She framed the upcoming election as a "boss-level challenge," pointing directly at the DPP candidate, who she claimed would marshal the full force of the party, government, online armies, judiciary, and media. This statement not only revealed her realistic assessment of the political landscape but also quickly shifted the focus for KMT supporters from internal primary strife to rallying together against a common opponent.

Hsin-Ying Hsu is certainly a familiar face to Hsinchu residents. Holding a PhD in civil engineering from National Chiao Tung University and being Taiwan's first female PhD in satellite surveying, her political career has been remarkably dramatic. Elected as a legislator with the highest vote count nationwide in 2012, she left the KMT in 2015 to found the Minkuotang (MKT) and later ran as James Soong's vice-presidential candidate in 2016. Though that campaign was unsuccessful, it raised her national profile. She rejoined the KMT in 2022 through the "Same Boat Project" and was re-elected to the Legislative Yuan in 2024. Now, drawing on her extensive campaign experience, she is once again challenging for the Hsinchu County magistrate seat.

Primary Battle Concludes, Party Integration is the Next Crucial Step

Of course, the primary was not without its controversies. From Hsu's camp aggressively highlighting Chen's past and calling for a "blacklisting" review, to Chen's camp counter-accusing Hsu of violating election laws by releasing poll data and even questioning her dual party membership, the two sides clashed intensely. Now that the primary is over, and Hsu's candidacy is officially confirmed, the major focus shifts to whether the KMT can successfully unify its ranks.

Chen showed grace after the results were announced. Despite his landslide victory in the member vote, he simply said, "Go KMT, go Hsinchu County," bringing a temporary end to this fierce intra-party contest. Looking ahead to the general election, whether the KMT can hold onto Hsinchu County, a traditional stronghold for the party, will depend on how Hsu can integrate local forces and channel the energy from the primary into a unified campaign for the main event.

• Primary Result: Hsin-Ying Hsu narrowly defeated Chen Hsien-Hsien by 50.634% to 49.366%.
• Key Turning Point: Although trailing in the party member vote, she mounted a comeback through the 70% weighting of opinion polls.
• Hsu's Reaction: Broke down in tears, emphasising "humility and gratitude," and called for unity against external opponents.
• Chen's Response: Showed grace, simply saying, "Go KMT."

With Hsin-Ying Hsu set to carry the KMT banner in the year-end Hsinchu County magistrate election, the biggest question is whether she can recapture the momentum that made her the top national vote-getter in the past. After navigating multiple party switches, securing the voters' trust once again will be the main storyline in what promises to be a high-stakes battle for "world-class Hsinchu County."