Former California Gov. Pete Wilson is expected to endorse Sen. Ted Cruz for president at the state’s GOP convention Saturday, according to a report.
Wilson arrived at the San Francisco-area convention Friday and will give Cruz’s introduction at a luncheon address, which will include his official showing of support.
The former GOP leader served the Golden State during the 1990s is known for his effort to deny benefits to illegal immigrants in California while he was governor of the state. The effort ended Wilson’s presidential ambitions and helped turn California solidy blue by pushing the state’s large Hispanic population, growing fast at the time, into the Democratic Party. Wilson’s move has recently been compared to Trump’s pledge to deported undocumented immigrants in its disastrous effect on views of the GOP among Latinos.
Cruz, a constitutional lawyer from Texas, trails GOP front-runner Donald Trump in California primary polls. A RealClearPolitics average has the New York businessman up 17 points over Cruz.
The backing of a moderate Republican could help the Tea Party darling in the polls and ultimately in the June 7 primary.
