Yang was elected as the
Magistrate of
Kaohsiung County after winning the
2001 Kaohsiung magisterial election as a
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate on 1 December 2001 and took office on 20 December 2001. He was reelected for ta second magisterial term after winning the
2005 Kaohsiung magisterial election under DPP on 3 December 2005 and took office on 20 December 2005.
2010 Kaohsiung Mayoralty election On 27 November 2010, Yang joined
Kaohsiung City Mayoralty election as independent candidate. However, he lost to incumbent Kaohsiung City Mayor
Chen Chu, the Democratic Progressive Party candidate. ==2014 Kaohsiung Mayoral election==