| Election Name: | 2016 Kuomintang chairmanship by-election |
| Flag Image: | Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svg |
| Type: | by-election |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2015 Kuomintang chairmanship by-election |
| Previous Year: | 2015 |
| Next Election: | 2017 Kuomintang chairmanship election |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Election Date: | 26 March 2016 |
| Turnout: | 41.61% |
| Image5: | ChenSheisaint-crop.jpg |
| Nominee5: | Apollo Chen |
| Color5: | 7A1920 |
| Popular Vote5: | 6,784 |
| Percentage5: | 4.83% |
| Image4: | 2006DirectSellRunning_HsinLee.jpg |
| Nominee4: | Lee Hsin |
| Color4: | 00BFE3 |
| Popular Vote4: | 7,604 |
| Percentage4: | 5.42% |
| Nominee2: | Huang Min-hui |
| Color2: | 7511FD |
| Popular Vote2: | 46,341 |
| Percentage2: | 33.02% |
| Image1: | Hong_Hsiu-chu_chopped.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Hung Hsiu-chu |
| Color1: | D42187 |
| Popular Vote1: | 78,829 |
| Percentage1: | 56.16% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Chairman | |
| Before Election: | Huang Min-hui (acting) |
| After Election: | Hung Hsiu-chu |
The 2016 Kuomintang chairmanship by-election was held on 26 March 2016 in Taiwan. This was the seventh direct election of the party leader in Kuomintang history. All registered, due-paying KMT party members were eligible to vote.
The party leadership by-election was called after Kuomintang presidential candidate Eric Chu lost the 2016 election to Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen. Chu, who had been elected as KMT leader a year prior, subsequently resigned his post.[1] On 21 January, a day after Hung Hsiu-chu announced her candidacy, Hau Lung-pin declared his interest in the position.[2] Apollo Chen, Chung Hsiao-ping, and Lee Hsin also joined the race,[3] [4] as did New Party chairman Yok Mu-ming, whom the KMT immediately declared ineligible.[5]
The registration period for the election began on 26 January. Lee Hsin became the first to complete the process. Yok Mu-ming did not file his proposed candidacy, as he had been barred from doing so by the KMT the previous day.[5] Central Advisory Committee member Chou Kai-lun filed the required documentation, but did not pay the fee, nullifying his candidacy.[6] On 27 January, Apollo Chen, Chen Ming-yi, Hung Hsiu-chu, acting chair Huang Min-hui, and Lin Rong-te began registration.[7] Hau Lung-pin dropped out, and was rejected because he had not yet served on the party's Central Committee.[8] On 29 January, Chen Ming-yi withdrew his candidacy.[9] [10]
To be considered eligible for the election itself, all candidates must have collected the signatures of three percent of the Kuomintang membership, a cutoff of 9,600 in 2016, by 21 February.[11] [12] Lin Rong-te dropped out of the election on 17 February, four days before the petition deadline.[13] The four remaining candidates submitted petitions and registered for the election on 22 February.[14] On 26 February, the party confirmed that every candidate had reached the signature threshold required to validate their candidacy.[15] The election was held on 26 March 2016.[16]
Hung Hsiu-chu won the election outright with 56.16% of the vote in the first round. Acting chair Huang Min-hui finished second at 33.02% while Taipei City councilor Lee Hsin and legislator Apollo Chen polled in the single digits with 5.42% and 4.83% of the vote, respectively.[17] With the electoral victory Hung became the first elected chairwoman of the party since its establishment.[18]
Turnout was 41.61% of 337,351 voters, the lowest turnout since the party began directly electing its leader in 2001.[19] [17]