President Biden to visit Yonkers Sunday for 'get out the vote' event ahead of Election Day

President Joe Biden will visit Yonkers on Sunday for a "get out the vote" event at Sarah Lawrence College as Democrats face a fierce GOP challenge ahead of Election Day.

The event was initially announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul's Office as beginning at 5 p.m.; according to the White House, Biden will appear at 6 p.m., after landing at Westchester County Airport at 4:35 p.m.

He will be campaigning for Hochul, who is battling Republican Lee Zeldin in a governor's race that has gotten tighter than many expected.

Biden's stop in Yonkers will come two days before voters head to the polls in New York, where Republicans hope to grab a few blue Hudson Valley Congressional seats in an attempt to retake the House of Representatives.

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Democrats Jamaal Bowman, Sean Patrick Maloney, Pat Ryan and Josh Riley are vying for House seats in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th districts, respectively. Republicans Miriam Flisser, Mike Lawler, Colin Schmitt and Marc Molinaro, respectively, are also seeking those seats, with the Cook Political Report calling the races in the 17th and 19th tossups.

Numerous state Senate and Assembly seats are also up for grabs throughout the Hudson Valley.

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State Assemblyman Nader Sayegh, a Democrat who represents much of Yonkers in the 90th District and is running for re-election, said he will be there.

"I’m glad they’re recognizing, as I see it, that Yonkers is really a crucial battleground," he said. "I feel it really gives the Democrat base a momentum or a little spike in motivation because at the end of the day it really will come down to turnout. I see that the Republican base seems to be pretty mobilized.

"I think we recognize that the Republican base is extremely energized," he added.

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In a statement, New York Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy called it "an act of pure desperation" to have Biden visit New York.

"New York Democrats are smashing the glass and pulling the fire alarm,” Langworthy said. “But calling in Biden to try and save Kathy Hochul is like bringing in the captain of the Titanic to save your sinking ship. I should say 'thank you' because it’s the perfect message to voters who are clamoring for a change from the failed Biden-Hochul agenda."

A recent national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll detailed that, but also showed a general enthusiasm to visit the polls. With nearly 1,600 adults responding overall between Oct. 24 to 27, Republican respondents were more motivated to vote, with 88% stating they would "definitely" vote, compared to 82% of Democrats and 73% of Independents. Of all respondents in the northeast region, 73% said they would "definitely" vote.

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Sunday marks the end of the nine-day early voting period in New York. Polls around the state Tuesday will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This will be Biden's second trip to the Hudson Valley in a month, and third visit to New York. On Oct. 6 he spoke at IBM's facility in Poughkeepsie, where he discussed the company's technology investment and hope for the country's future in manufacturing. He then, on Oct. 27, traveled to Syracuse, where Micron recently announced a $100 billion plan to build a semiconductor facility.

Biden this weekend is scheduled to visit Joilet, Illinois and Philadelphia for events on Saturday, before spending the night in Delaware and traveling to Westchester Sunday afternoon. He's scheduled to fly out of Westchester County Airport at 7:50 p.m. Sunday to return to the White House.

What to know about traffic

Because of Biden's visit, Yonkers police are advising residents and commuters in the Lawrence Park section of the city that there would be intermittent and temporary street closures in that area on Sunday and to plan accordingly.

Some of those street closures might begin as early as 6 a.m., and there will be additional rolling street closures throughout the day.

A slow reopening of streets is expected sometime after 10 p.m. Sunday. Kimball Avenue will be closed for the duration of the event.

Invited guests are advised to find legal street-level parking south of the Cross County Parkway. Police said event parking is limited, and drivers in the area should expect delays.

Police also said all traffic and parking information is subject to change.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: President Biden, Kathy Hochul to visit Yonkers ahead of Election Day