First lady Jill Biden speaks at Coachella Valley fundraiser

First lady Jill Biden and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass greet one another at Burbank Airport in Burbank, Calif., Friday, March 22, 2024. Biden is attending fundraising events in California. (David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP)

RANCHO MIRAGE – First lady Jill Biden arrived in the Coachella Valley today as part of a Southern California fundraising swing.

Biden flew into Palm Springs on Saturday and was greeted by Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein on the tarmac at Palm Springs International Airport.

A motorcade then took her to a midday fundraiser for her husband’s re-election campaign in Rancho Mirage hosted by James Costos, former US ambassador to Spain under the Obama administration, and his partner Michael Smith.

According to a pool report, roughly 125 people attended the fundraiser at the couple’s Thunderbird Heights estate, which also included remarks from Democrat Will Rollins, who is running for California’s 41st Congressional District seat against incumbent Republican Rep. Ken Calvert.

Deadline and KESQ reported that the guest list for the fundraiser included Barry Manilow and former California Sen. Barbara Boxer. Deadline reported that tickets range from $1,000 to $100,000, with the highest-priced tickets including a photo opp with the first lady.

Proceeds will benefit the Biden Victory Fund, a fundraising committee for the Biden campaign, Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties.

Biden spoke for about 10 minutes before departing the fundraiser. She was scheduled to return to Los Angeles, where she is scheduled to speak Saturday night at the Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 Dinner.

She is scheduled to attend another event in Los Angeles on Monday as part of the White House initiative on Women’s Health Research.

On Friday, Biden arrived at Hollywood Burbank Airport and attended a fundraiser at the Hancock Park home of Dr. Patricia Gordon, who told the crowd the event had raised more than $1 million — more than any other fundraiser headlined by the first lady. (CNS)