Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who for months has prepared his political operation in California, will give the keynote address at the state Republican Party’s spring convention.

Campaigning to deny front-runner Donald Trump the delegates needed to win the nomination, Cruz has amassed a large team of GOP volunteers and supporters in this suddenly relevant state, many of whom he addressed Thursday in Orange County.

In a statement, California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte, who has not endorsed in the race, called Cruz a “courageous conservative (who) has worked hard to reignite the promise of America, restore our Constitution, and defend the values we all hold dear.”

Cruz is scheduled to keynote the party’s lunch banquet April 30 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame.