Kuomintang (KMT) was elected in Taiwan Province and Kaohsiung, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) captured the capital city.

James Soong of the KMT, then-chairman of Taiwan Provincial Government, was nominated to continue heading the province.

Taipei City was long seen as the stronghold of Kuomintang as many civil servants and Chinese migrants (or Waishengren) resided there.

After legislator Frank Hsieh lost the first round of the primary and subsequently withdrew, Chen Shui-bian was selected to challenge Huang.

In this election, KMT's candidate Wu Den-yih, former Nantou Magistrate, won 54% of votes and was leading in all districts of Kaohsiung.