A look at 10 key constituencies nationwide for the 2026 election, featuring intense family feuds and veteran politician clashes, with incumbents switching parties to try to hold onto their seats.
In the election for 400 single-member parliamentary constituencies across the country, many districts stand out due to notable candidates. “Elephant versus elephant” battles. Major political families are fielding candidates to compete, or in some areas, “family battles”. Candidates with the same surname vying for the same parliamentary seat. Thairath Online special team has compiled 10 notable constituencies as follows.
In the 2023 election, Mr. Phanthil Nuamchoem, formerly of the Move Forward Party (now with the People’s Party), won by a landslide, boosted by the orange wave that swept 32 out of 33 Bangkok seats. This election will be closely watched to see if he can maintain the support in Constituency 4.
Meanwhile, other parties have prominent candidates entering the race, including Mr. Khetrath Laothamatas, son of Mr. Anek Laothamatas, former Minister of Higher Education under the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, running under Bhumjaithai Party. The Democrat Party is fielding Mr. Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, former Bangkok spokesman and son of Police General Aswin Kwanmuang, former Bangkok governor, a young candidate with a significant voter base.
Another notable name is Mr. Ruangkae Leakijwattana, a well-known political watchdog and complainant, running under Palang Pracharath Party. Pheu Thai is fielding a new-generation politician, Mr. Boonyakorn Damrongrat, to contest the seat.
This is one of the constituencies drawing significant attention both locally and beyond, as Hat Yai is an important district recently recovering from major floods, and the candidates announced are well-known personalities.
The incumbent is Mr. Sastra Sripan, formerly of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, now running under Bhumjaithai. In 2023, he narrowly defeated the Move Forward candidate by just a few hundred votes. This time, the next-generation orange party, the People’s Party, is fielding Dr. Supat Hasuwannakit, director of Saba Yoi Hospital and former chairman of the Rural Doctors Club, known for criticizing Anutin during his tenure as Minister of Public Health regarding COVID-19 management and Bhumjaithai’s cannabis policy, leading to disciplinary investigations and a recent decision by the Ministry's Medical Council to dismiss him from government service, which if upheld, would disqualify Dr. Supat from candidacy.
Another strong contender is Mr. Juree Numkaew, Democrat Party candidate, a former internet celebrity and TikTok star turned politician with a large support base. In 2023, he ran under the Chart Pattana Kla Party and placed third with a close margin from first and second places. This time, running as a Democrat and serving as deputy party leader, he has a chance to win.
This area was originally held by Mr. Pichet Chueamuangphan, former deputy speaker and Pheu Thai MP, who was removed by the Constitutional Court with a 10-year political ban in August 2025 over budget allocation irregularities before the new election. Mr. Sanga Phrommuang from Pheu Thai then decisively defeated Mr. Suthat Yala from the People’s Party.
In 2026, Pheu Thai is fielding Mr. Sanga Phrommuang to defend the seat, while Bhumjaithai fields Mr. Seksan Chueamuangphan, Pichet’s younger brother with strong local support. Another leading candidate is Mr. Sutheeraphong Wanchai Thanawong, a prominent Chiang Rai family member, former Provincial Administrative Organization council chairman and deputy governor, and brother of current Chiang Rai PAO chief Mrs. Atitathorn Wanchai Thanawong, with a solid local voter base. The contest is expected to be mainly among these three parties, making it difficult for others to break through.
A family feud involving the "Sindhuprai" family between the incumbent Ms. Chayapha Sindhuprai, running again for Pheu Thai, and Mr. Thanachai Sindhuprai, of Bhumjaithai, son of Mrs. Jureeporn Sindhuprai, who is Ms. Chayapha’s uncle. Mrs. Jureeporn broke away from the family’s traditional line by joining Palang Pracharath in 2019 and running for Thai Sang Thai in 2023 before moving to the blue camp this time.
However, it is assessed that the former MP’s voter base is quite clear, but given the mixed nature of the constituency covering several districts, the contest remains open, making this one to watch.
A family battle within the "Kittithanesaworn" family as Mr. Kriangkrai Kittithanesaworn, recently switching from Pheu Thai to Bhumjaithai, runs against Mr. Wuttichai Kittithanesaworn, his uncle, who left Bhumjaithai for Kla Party. This race will test the Kittithanesaworn family’s influence across two rival political camps.
Mr. Kriangkrai, a former MP, remains a strong contender despite changing affiliation due to his local achievements. Mr. Wuttichai has extensive experience as a former MP in Nakhon Nayok under parties Thai Rak Thai, People's Power, and Pheu Thai before moving to Bhumjaithai and then Kla Party, making this district’s contest very close.
The incumbent in 2023 was Ms. Panida Mongkolsawat, formerly Move Forward, now running under the People’s Party, facing off against the powerful Asawame family from Paknam. The “Asawame” family, including Mr. Akkharawat Asawame, who mostly ran under Palang Pracharath, has joined forces with Pheu Thai this time and fielded candidates in all eight constituencies to reclaim parliamentary seats from the People’s Party, which had won all districts in the last election.
In 2023, Mr. Worath Sirirak, formerly of Move Forward, narrowly defeated the Ruam Thai Sang Chart candidate by a few thousand votes and is running to defend his seat. This district saw the "new house" Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, led by “Sia Heng” Mr. Suchart Chomklin, former Labor Minister, competing against the "big house" Khunpleum family aligned with Pheu Thai, who lost narrowly to the orange wave. However, for the 2026 election, both Mr. Suchart’s group and the Khunpleum family have joined Bhumjaithai, with Mr. Suchart running personally for this seat, potentially consolidating votes to surpass the orange party. Incumbents switching parties. Khon Kaen Constituency 9 (Waeng Yai, Waeng Noi, and Phon districts). Originally a stronghold of the Khon Kaen "big house" family,
the “Arnonpoporn” family running under Pheu Thai, with incumbent MP
Pheu Thai is fielding Mr. Natthaphon Kloomreangthong, a former provincial council member, in a highly competitive race. Pheu Thai organized a major rally in Phon District with party leaders Mr. Sutin Klangsaeng and Mr. Natthawut Saikua to energize voters against party-switching MPs. In the 2023 election, Pheu Thai led by a wide margin over Move Forward, but this time it will be a test between the “big house” family, the incumbent MP, and Pheu Thai’s local base. If votes split, the People’s Party, which fielded Ms. Kamolchanok Suphanphai,
a Khon Kaen university lecturer, might seize the seat. Kanchanaburi Constituency 5 (Thong Pha Phum, Sangkhla Buri, and parts of Si Sawat districts). In 2023, the winner was
Mr. Panom Pho Kaew, from Pheu Thai, running for a second term. Bhumjaithai is fielding Mr. Sakda Wichiansil, a former MP for Kanchanaburi Constituency 4 from Pheu Thai, who became a "snake" (party defector), voting for Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai leader, as prime minister and later appointed Deputy Minister of Interior. He now runs in Constituency 5. Kanchanaburi was nearly swept by Pheu Thai in the last election, so this race warrants close attention. Ubon Ratchathani Constituency 7 (Si Mueang Mai, Khong Chiam, Sirindhorn districts except Non Ko Subdistrict, and Phibun Mangsahan district including Rawe and Sai Mun subdistricts). In 2023, the winner was
daughter of “Kui” Chuwit Pitakpornpalop, a long-time MP in the area. For 2026, Mr. Chuwit, the father, has joined Kla Party as an advisor to Minister of Agriculture Mr. Thammanat Prompao, while Ms. Sudarat has joined Bhumjaithai to defend her seat. Pheu Thai is fielding Mr. Cherdsak Phokkulkarnon, son of Mr. Adisak Phokkulkarnon, a multiple-term Ubon Ratchathani MP formerly with Pheu Thai who switched to Palang Pracharath in 2019. In 2023, Mr. Cherdsak ran for this seat under Bhumjaithai, so it can be said that both candidates have swapped party affiliations this election.