Hsin-Ying Hsu breaks down in tears after stunning upset! KMT’s Hsinchu County primary sees late twist; former Soong Chu-yu running mate to vie for county magistrate again

It’s been an absolute rollercoaster for pan-blue supporters in Hsinchu County these past few days! The results of the KMT’s Hsinchu County primary were finally announced on the 28th, following a tense three-day process combining opinion polls and a final party membership vote. Legislator Hsin-Ying Hsu and Deputy Magistrate Chen Chien-hsien went head-to-head, with Hsu ultimately clinching a nail-biting victory by a razor-thin margin of 50.634% to 49.366% — a difference of just 1.268 percentage points. She will now carry the KMT’s banner into the year-end election for Hsinchu County magistrate.

A 70-30 rule comeback: Trailing in party vote, she surged ahead in polls

This KMT primary used a “30% party membership vote, 70% opinion poll” rule, and the process was nothing short of fierce. During the party membership vote on the 28th, Chen Chien-hsien demonstrated his strong grassroots ground game, securing 2,870 votes for a 56.775% share, outpacing Hsu’s 2,185 votes (43.225%) by 685 votes. Just when it seemed like Chen had the upper hand, the crucial poll results came in and completely flipped the script. Hsu led across all three polling agencies, and after weighted calculations, she clinched the comeback with a total approval rating of 50.634%.

Upon hearing the news, Hsu blinked rapidly on stage, her eyes welling up before she finally pulled out a tissue to wipe away tears. Visibly emotional, she said that throughout this period, only five words were on her mind: “Humility and gratitude.” She thanked the乡亲们 (fellow residents) who supported her in the phone polls and the party members who came out to vote. She also acknowledged her opponent, Chen Chien-hsien, stressing that the primary is over and their shared goal is the future of Hsinchu County.

“Winning the primary isn’t the real victory”: Hsu sets sights on the general election

After regaining her composure, Hsu showed the resilience she has built over her years in politics. She rallied her supporters, telling them to celebrate tonight but be ready to hit the campaign trail again tomorrow because the real test is just beginning. She framed the upcoming election as a “final boss” level, directly pointing to the DPP candidate who, she argued, will command the full weight of state resources, including the party, government machinery, cyber troops, the judiciary, and the media. This statement not only reflected her stark assessment of the political landscape but also swiftly refocused pan-blue supporters’ energy from internal primary tensions to a united front against the common opponent.

Of course, Hsin-Ying Hsu is no stranger to residents of Hsinchu County. Armed with a PhD in civil engineering from National Chiao Tung University and a reputation as Taiwan’s first female satellite surveying doctor, her political journey has been anything but conventional. She was elected legislator with the highest number of votes nationwide in 2012, left the KMT to found the Minkuo Party in 2015, and in 2016, she ran for vice president on a ticket with Soong Chu-yu. While that bid wasn't successful, it gave her national prominence. She rejoined the KMT in 2022 through the “Same Boat Project” and successfully returned to the Legislative Yuan in 2024. Now, armed with a wealth of campaign experience, she is once again challenging for the Hsinchu County magistrate seat.

Primary battle ends, but KMT unity is the next big hurdle

Of course, the primary wasn’t without its controversies. From Hsu’s camp pressing the issue of Chen’s past reform school record and calling for a blacklisting review, to Chen’s camp counter-accusing Hsu of violating the election recall law by releasing poll data and questioning her potential dual-party membership, both sides traded blows. Now that the results are in and Hsin-Ying Hsu’s candidacy is confirmed, the main focus shifts to whether the pan-blue camp can successfully unite.

Chen Chien-hsien showed grace after the results were announced. Despite winning the party membership vote decisively, he simply said, “Go KMT, go Hsinchu County,” drawing a temporary close to this intense internal contest. As the year-end election approaches, whether the KMT can hold onto Hsinchu County, a traditional pan-blue stronghold, will depend on how Hsu can consolidate local forces and transform the energy spent on the primary into momentum for the battle ahead.

• Primary Results: Hsin-Ying Hsu edged out Chen Chien-hsien by a margin of 50.634% to 49.366%.
• Key Turning Point: Despite trailing in the party membership vote, she made a comeback in the opinion polls, which accounted for 70% of the total.
• Hsu’s Reaction: An emotional victory, emphasising “humility and gratitude” while calling for party unity.
• Chen’s Response: A gracious concession, simply urging “Go KMT.”

In the year-end election for Hsinchu County magistrate, Hsin-Ying Hsu will represent the pan-blue camp. Whether she can recapture the momentum that saw her secure the highest number of votes nationwide all those years ago, and gain the trust of voters after her political realignments, will be the biggest storyline in this “world-class” race for Hsinchu County.