Ma's sole challenger is Lee Ying-yuan of the DPP. Lee's relative lack of previous involvement in Taipei City politics, and recent controversy over a number of central government policies, have caused him to face an uphill struggle.
李應元一方，由於他與台北市的淵源較淺，又背負著執政黨政策執行者的包袱，一直陷入苦戰。