Independent Candidate Elected Mayor of Taiwan’s Capital

In electing Dr. Ko Wen-che as their mayor on Nov. 29, Taipei voters broke out of the political mold that has dominated Taiwanese elections for the last three decades. Ko’s victory by a resounding 850,000 votes over Sean Lien of the Nationalist Party (KMT) was only one piece of bad news for the ruling KMT Party.

Independent Taipei mayor-elect Ko Wen-je celebrates his victory in the 2014 Taipei mayoral elections at his headquarters on Nov. 29, 2014, in Taipei, Taiwan. Millions of voters went to the polls for the island's largest ever local elections, as the Democratic Progressive Party defeated the ruling Nationalist Party in 16 out of 22 county elections. Ashley Pon/Getty Images

Supporters of Ko Wen-je celebrate after Ko won the Taipei mayoral elections on Nov. 29, 2014 in Taipei, Taiwan. Millions of voters went to the polls for the island's largest ever local elections, as Independent Taipei mayor-elect Ko Wen-je won. Ashley Pon/Getty Images