President Joe Biden will make a long-touted visit to California tonight in support of Gov. Gavin Newsom, with the pair set to speak in Long Beach one day ahead of the deadline to return ballots and vote in the gubernatorial recall election.
Here’s what we know about Biden’s visit to Long Beach, part of his first trip to the West since becoming president.
Where and when
Officials have not released any specific details, but he will arrive at Long Beach Airport shortly after 6 p.m., and speak at Long Beach City College at close to 7 p.m.
Biden is staying the night in Long Beach. Security details and police have been gathering near the Westin in Downtown, but details on his stay have not been released. He is slated to depart from Long Beach Airport shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Traffic and road closures
The city still has not released any specific information about road closures, though major thoroughfares including northbound Lakewood Boulevard near Wardlow have already been closed.
The city advised those who need access to Downtown to use Third and Seventh streets.
Officials said traffic around the city will be heavy through Tuesday.
Can people attend?
No information has been provided about public access. Details on who has been invited to attend has not been released.
Biden will speak in support of Newsom, who faces a recall election on Tuesday. Mayor Robert Garcia and other politicians are also expected to rally behind Newsom.
Garcia took to Twitter last week to hail the pending Biden visit.
“We are going to do everything we can to beat this recall over the next few days—and we are creating a national roadmap for Democrats to win in2022. Take on anti-vaxxers, defend mask mandates, stand up for science and protect public health,” Garcia wrote.
Republican talk show host Larry Elder, the leader in the polls to replace Newsom if the recall is successful, dismissed the high-level support for the governor.
“If Gavin Newsom thinks that flying in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris—not exactly the most admired government officials at the present time—will make him look better, that’s all you need to know about how oblivious and detached Newsom is from a large majority of Californians,” Elder tweeted last week.
Elder attended a pair of events in the Los Angeles area on Monday, with another stop planned in San Pedro Monday afternoon and a volunteer rally planned in Costa Mesa Monday night.
Biden on Tuesday will depart for Denver for an event to tout his “Build Back Better” economic recovery agenda.
Earlier Monday, Biden stopped in Boise, Idaho, for a visit to the National Interagency Fire Center. He is scheduled to stop in Sacramento Monday afternoon to “survey wildfire damage,” according to the White House.