Former California Gov. Pete Wilson has endorsed Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz ahead of the state’s crucial primary in June.

Calling Cruz the strong Republican leader the party needs, Wilson announced his support at the California GOP convention Saturday.

“I am here to announce to you my wholehearted endorsement and my wholehearted support of that winning Republican leader who will be the next president of the United States: Ted Cruz,” Wilson said.

The endorsement comes as Cruz continues to trail front-runner Donald Trump in the state’s GOP primary by double digits.

A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Trump leading Cruz 46 percent to 28 percent.