 Despite the requirement to be non-partisan, several new Senators are informally linked to different political camps.Udon Thani Province in the Northeast, was won by the wife of Kwanchai Praipana, a local leader of the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or "red shirts".Chiang Mai Province was won by former deputy governor Adisorn Kamnerdsiri, who is considered close to the Pheu Thai Party of acting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.