Sen. Jim Risch James (Jim) Elroy RischWhy the US should rely more on strategy, not sanctions Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Senators blast Turkey's move to convert Hagia Sophia back into a mosque MORE (R-Idaho) on Wednesday hesitantly endorsed colleague Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg Cruz: Trump should nominate a Supreme Court justice next week Renewed focus on Trump's Supreme Court list after Ginsburg's death MORE (R-Texas) in the GOP presidential primary.

"Did I just endorse, Wolf?" Risch asked host Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "The Situation Room," after talking about how he hopes Cruz will win the GOP nomination.

“I guess it depends on your definition,” he said.

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Risch said he is only picking Cruz after ruling out GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE and Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) first.

“The defeat Donald Trump would face against Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhat Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE would probably be epic and historical,” he said. "I’m not going to support him.

“Obviously, Kasich is so far behind that it’s hard for him to get the numbers. By process of elimination, that leaves you with Cruz. At this point, there’s no other option.”

Risch previously backed Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioFlorida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (R-Fla.), who suspended his White House run last month after finishing second in Florida’s GOP presidential primary.

His support for Cruz would give the Texas lawmaker his third endorsement from a sitting senator, after Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeMcConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package McConnell tries to unify GOP Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump MORE (R-Utah) and Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg Democratic senator calls for eliminating filibuster, expanding Supreme Court if GOP fills vacancy What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies MORE (R-S.C.), who has not spoken very highly of Cruz even as he supports his White House run.

Trump has repeatedly mocked the number of Cruz’s Senate endorsements, arguing it shows how unpopular he is with colleagues.

Graham only backed Cruz after deciding he is the only remaining candidate capable of keeping Trump from the GOP presidential nomination. He has frequently criticized both men’s Oval Office bids, calling Cruz his “15th choice” for president.

Trump leads Cruz and Kasich by over 7 points nationwide, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.