The administrative integration of Daejeon and Chungnam has hit a snag due to opposition from both the region's parties and the populace, creating uncertainty in local election dynamics as the June elections approach. Attention is turning towards Kang Hoon-sik, the current chief of staff to the president, who was anticipated to run for mayor of the newly formed special city. His recent popularity in opinion polls, which show him leading against potential candidates from both major parties, raised hopes within the Democratic Party that he would be officially selected as their candidate.

However, despite this optimism, Kang has maintained a cautious stance, opting to focus on national affairs rather than confirming his candidacy. Opinions within the Democratic Party suggest that even if the integration efforts fail, Kang still has a chance to run for election. A prominent party member noted that given the stature of his current position, it might seem trivial to run for mayor unless he feels it necessary to challenge the current governor, Kim Tae-heum, which could lead to renewed discussions about his candidacy.

As discussions around the integration move forward, existing candidates are closely observing the political atmosphere. Some have already declared their intentions to run, including former governor Yang Seung-jo and Buyeo County Mayor Park Jeong-hyeon. Others, such as lawmakers Park Soo-hyun and Bok Gi-wang, are also being mentioned as potential contenders. On the opposite side, the ruling People Power Party is likely to retain its incumbents Kim Tae-heum and Lee Jang-woo for their re-election bids, though new candidates have yet to emerge significantly in this political landscape.