Wang Mei-hui, the Democratic Progressive Party nominee and current Chiayi City legislator with deep local roots, holds the strongest position ahead of the November 28, 2026, election, supported by unified party backing including senior figures and her established record in the district. The opposition's joint KMT-TPP nominee Chang Chi-kai secured the blue-white alliance nomination in April after prevailing in coordinated polling, drawing on outgoing KMT Mayor Huang Min-hui's endorsement and public profile, yet trails in available surveys such as a late-April TVBS poll showing Wang ahead 43-37 percent. Minor candidates including novelty entrant Huang Hung-cheng and others registered in early September but lack comparable organizational or polling support. Recent registration filings and campaign launches by the main contenders have reinforced focus on local issues like rail infrastructure and youth policies without shifting the underlying competitive dynamics. Trader consensus reflects Wang's structural advantages in a city where her legislative constituency aligns directly with the mayoral race.