Cheng Chao-fang, the Democratic Progressive Party nominee and Zhubei mayor, holds the leading position in trader pricing for the November 28, 2026, Hsinchu County magistrate election due to his established local record on governance and urban-rural balance, reinforced by party leadership endorsement. Recent campaign activity, including opening a service office in Guansi Township with proposals on green tourism corridors and transportation upgrades, has sustained momentum. Hsu Hsin-ying, the Kuomintang candidate, trails amid reported internal party tensions and the collapse of potential cross-party coordination on related races, limiting unified opposition support. A late-October investigation into public allegations against Cheng regarding land rezoning has introduced minor uncertainty, though the market reflects limited immediate impact on implied probabilities. Other registered candidates, including independents, show minimal trader interest consistent with registration data confirming a narrow field.