CHIANG RAI – With Thailand heading into the election on Sunday, Chiang Rai has become one of the most-watched battlegrounds. The province has 7 constituencies, and in the final stretch of campaigning.
Talk in local political circles points to Pheu Thai holding the upper hand in several districts. At the same time, Kla Tham and Bhumjaithai are gaining ground in a few key areas. The People’s Party appears likely to lose momentum compared to past cycles.
Campaigning has run for almost two months, and the picture is getting clearer by the day. Each party has been pushing hard with local visits, meetings with community leaders, and a steady ground game.
Long-standing voter loyalty also still matters in Chiang Rai, especially in districts where family networks and local political ties run deep.
District 1, Pheu Thai, has a strong home base
In District 1, Pheu Thai has built a major advantage through its municipal base in Chiang Rai City. The local network connected to Wan Chai Jongsutthanamanee (mayor) and Rattana Jongsutthanamanee (advisor) supports their son, Dr. Thanarat Jongsutthanamanee, the Pheu Thai candidate. That base inside the city municipality is widely seen as solid.
Pheu Thai leaders have also campaigned across Chiang Rai and then focused attention on District 1 to help push Thanarat toward his first MP seat. The main competition includes Wutthichat Kriangkasern from Kla Tham, who is seen as rising, and Chitwan Chinanuwat from Prachachon (an incumbent). But with party momentum closer than in earlier years, Pheu Thai’s local structure still looks stronger here.
District 2, “Tiyapairach” Name Recognition dominates
District 2 looks close to a walkover for Pheu Thai’s Piyarat Tiyapairach. Her profile, plus the influence and recognition of her father, Yongyuth Tiyapairach, keeps the spotlight on her campaign.
Other candidates are in the race, but local expectations still point to her holding the seat based on name recognition, prior support, and continued strength in rural areas.
District 3, a familiar veteran, remains the front-runner
In District 3, Wisarn Techatheerawat from Pheu Thai remains the leading contender. He faces Tha-kun Yasang, a former MP for this district from Prachachon. Local sentiment has shifted back and forth, but current talk suggests Wisarn stays ahead unless a late, dramatic swing changes the race.
District 4, deep local roots give Pheu Thai an edge
District 4 is another area where Pheu Thai appears favored. Wisaradee Techatheerawat, Wisarn’s daughter and a former MP, benefits from decades of support in places like Phan and Pa Daet.
Her main challenger is Sursit Jiamwijak from Kla Tham, also an experienced former MP. Even so, the view on the ground is that rebuilding or expanding a base fast enough may be difficult against an entrenched local network.
District 5, Pheu Thai, and Bhumjaithai are neck and neck
District 5 looks like Pheu Thai’s most vulnerable seat in Chiang Rai. Therdchat Chaiphong (Pheu Thai), a former MP, is in a tight contest with Rangsarn Wanchaithanawong (Bhumjaithai). If Pheu Thai slips anywhere, many observers think it happens here, which could give Bhumjaithai its first constituency win in Chiang Rai.
District 6, border politics heats up amid vote-buying rumors
District 6 features Chaiyon Srisamut, who resigned as Mae Sai subdistrict municipality mayor to run for MP for the first time. He is considered to have strong support in the border area, with Yongyuth Tiyapairach also helping in parts of the district.
What stands out in this race is who he is battling. Instead of a straightforward contest with Julaluck Khansutham, a former MP from Prachachon, the sharper fight appears to be against Kla Tham candidate Molthicha Chaibalan, who previously worked as a coordinator connected to the Thammanat Foundation during flood relief efforts in late 2024.
The competition has also been overshadowed by allegations that “Wa” money is involved in vote buying, with claims that even a police officer was mentioned, though not identified. Molthicha’s husband is reportedly a police officer working in a nearby province.
Local chatter has included claims of advance cash handouts in some villages, including reports of 500 baht per person weeks before election day. Other claims mention smaller amounts, such as 100 baht upfront, with promises of more later, including after results are known, or after a candidate wins.
Polling snapshots have been mixed. Some suggest Chaiyon and Pheu Thai still win, but not by much, supported by the party’s existing base. Others suggest Molthicha could pull off a first-time win for Kla Tham in Chiang Rai.
District 7, Kla Tham pushes hard against Pheu Thai’s former MP
In District 7, Kla Tham candidate Sutheeraphong Wanchaithanawong, a former deputy chief executive of the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) and former PAO council chair, has built support over the years in local politics.
That sustained local groundwork has put pressure on Sawang Prommuang, a former Pheu Thai MP, and some believe the seat could flip if Pheu Thai’s side misreads the mood.
Where the race stands right now
In the final days before voters head to the polls, the most common expectation in Chiang Rai’s political circles is:
- Pheu Thai is favored in 4 districts
- Kla Tham is competitive and could take 2 districts
- Bhumjaithai has a real shot at 1 district
With rumors of “Wa” money and vote-buying claims adding tension along the border areas, Chiang Rai’s 7-seat map remains one of the most closely watched contests heading into election day.
