Ko Wen-je

Ko Wen-je, a former surgeon with no party affiliation, was elected Mayor of Taipei. He ran as an independent, defeating the KMT candidate. His victory was seen as a breakthrough for third-party politics in Taiwan, and he served two terms until 2022.

Ko Wen-je founded the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) as a centrist alternative to the KMT and DPP. The party aimed to attract voters dissatisfied with the two major parties. It gained seats in the Legislative Yuan in the 2020 elections, establishing a third force in Taiwanese politics.

Ko Wen-je ran as the Taiwan People's Party candidate in the 2024 presidential election. He finished third behind the DPP and KMT candidates, but his campaign drew significant support from younger voters and highlighted the growing appeal of third-party politics in Taiwan.