Hsin-Ying Hsu Breaks Down in Tears After Stunning Upset in KMT Primary; Former Soong Chu-yu Running Mate to Vie for Hsinchu County Magistracy

It's been a wild ride for pan-Blue supporters in Hsinchu County these past few days. The KMT's primary for Hsinchu County magistrate was finally settled on the 28th, with Legislator Hsin-Ying Hsu and Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien locked in a fierce battle that included three days of polling and a final party member vote. In the end, Hsu emerged victorious in a nail-biter, securing 50.634% of the vote against Chen's 49.366% — a razor-thin margin of just 1.268 percentage points. She will now represent the KMT in the year-end election for Hsinchu County magistrate.

A 70/30 Comeback: Polling Surge Overcomes Deficit in Party Member Vote

The KMT's primary used a 70/30 system, where 70% of the weight came from public opinion polls and 30% from a vote among party members. The process was nothing short of intense. In the party member vote held on the 28th, Chen Chien-hsien demonstrated his deep grassroots organising strength, securing 2,870 votes (56.775%) compared to Hsu's 2,185 (43.225%), a lead of 685 votes. Just when many thought Chen had it in the bag, the crucial polling data flipped the script. Hsu led across the board in the results from three polling agencies, and after weighted calculations, she clinched the nomination with a final support score of 50.634%.

When the results were announced, Hsu could be seen blinking rapidly on stage, her eyes welling up with tears before she finally broke down and reached for a tissue. Her voice trembling with emotion, she said that for the past while, she had only five words in her heart: "Humility and gratitude." She thanked the residents who supported her in the phone polls, the party members who came out to vote, and extended her respects to her opponent, Chen Chien-hsien, emphasising that with the primary over, everyone's focus is now on the future of Hsinchu County.

"The Party's Fight Isn't the Real Fight": Hsu Sets Sights on the General Election

After regaining her composure, Hsu showed the resilience forged through her years in politics. She rallied her supporters, saying they should celebrate tonight, but tomorrow it's back to work because the real test is just beginning. She likened the upcoming election campaign to a "final boss battle," squarely pointing to her opponent, who she said would be backed by the full resources of the DPP — including party machinery, government power, online trolls, the judiciary, and the media. Her remarks not only showed her stark assessment of the race but also quickly shifted the pan-Blue camp's focus from the internal strife of the primary to a united front against the opposition.

For Hsinchu locals, Hsu is a familiar face. With a PhD in civil engineering from National Chiao Tung University and a reputation as Taiwan's first female PhD in satellite surveying, her political career has been eventful. She was elected legislator with the highest vote count nationwide in 2012, left the KMT to form the Minkuotang (MKT) in 2015, and then teamed up with James Soong as his running mate in the 2016 presidential election. Though that campaign didn't succeed, it gave her national name recognition. She returned to the KMT in 2022 through the "Same Boat Project" and successfully made it back to the Legislative Yuan in 2024. Now, armed with a wealth of campaign experience, she's once again setting her sights on the Hsinchu County magistrate's seat.

After a Bitter Primary, Party Unity is the Next Big Test

Of course, this primary was not without its share of controversies. Hsu's camp had aggressively highlighted Chen's past legal troubles, calling for a background check, while Chen's camp countered by accusing Hsu of violating the Election and Recall Act by releasing internal polling data and even questioning her party affiliation. The back-and-forth was intense. Now that the primary is decided and Hsu's name is on the ticket, the big question is whether the pan-Blue camp can successfully unify.

Chen Chien-hsien showed grace after the results were announced. Despite his resounding win in the party member vote, he simply said, "Go KMT, go Hsinchu County," bringing a close to this fiercely contested primary. As the year-end election approaches, whether the KMT can hold onto Hsinchu County — a traditional pan-Blue stronghold — will depend on Hsu's ability to consolidate local factions and channel the energy from the primary battles into a strong campaign for the general election.

• Primary Result: Hsin-Ying Hsu defeats Chen Chien-hsien by a razor-thin margin of 50.634% to 49.366%.
• Turning Point: Despite losing the party member vote, a strong performance in the polls, which carried 70% weight, led to her comeback.
• Hsu's Reaction: Broke down in tears, spoke of "humility and gratitude," and called for unity against the DPP.
• Chen's Response: Showed grace, offering a message to "Go KMT, go Hsinchu County."

In the year-end election for Hsinchu County magistrate, Hsu will be representing the pan-Blue camp. The biggest storyline to watch will be whether she can channel the momentum from her historic top-vote-getter win years ago and once again earn the trust of voters after navigating several party switches.