TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Forward Alliance founder Enoch Wu (吳怡農) visited the Democratic Progressive Party’s headquarters Friday to register his intention to run for mayor of Taipei next year.

Friday was the deadline for mayoral hopefuls in areas where the DPP is the opposition to hand in a document stating their interest in running. The party will hold its first discussion about the candidates on Nov. 5, the Liberty Times reported.

The former legislative candidate founded the Forward Alliance, a nonprofit centered on disaster relief and national security issues, including the training of citizens to improve resilience. The candidate selected by the DPP is likely to face the Kuomintang incumbent, Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), in the Nov. 28, 2026 election. Chiang defeated Wu in the 2020 legislative elections for a seat in Taipei.

Showing up at DPP headquarters Friday, Wu told reporters he wanted to focus on the quality of life in the capital, asking citizens whether they thought Taipei had improved. He said he was planning to launch a series of “living room discussions” with parents, youths, innovators, and community activists.

Taipei should become even safer and more resilient and provide more opportunities for its residents, Wu said. Education and technology, and mental health and family life are equally important to help the next generation, he added.

Wu acknowledged that elections have always been difficult for the DPP in Taipei. The only DPP candidate to win a Taipei mayoral race was Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in 1994. Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), running as an independent, received the support of the DPP to win in 2014.

Wu said a clean and inclusive campaign could win the trust of citizens, making a victory possible. He also touted his experience as an investment banker, a government staffer, and the manager of a nonprofit.