Ann Kao leads the Hsinchu City mayoral race with strong trader consensus due to her incumbency advantage after a High Court acquittal cleared prior corruption charges, enabling her reinstatement in late 2025 and survival of a recall effort. She runs as an independent with explicit KMT and TPP backing, while the opposition remains divided between DPP candidate Chuang Ching-cheng and independent Ho Chih-yung, limiting any consolidated challenge. Recent polling shows her holding a roughly 24-point edge, and no major campaign developments since mid-October have altered positioning ahead of the November 28 vote. Market pricing reflects this structural edge, with resolution tied to official Central Election Commission results.