Directly and through surrogates, the Texas senator is aggressively reaching out to his Senate colleagues as he prepares for the possibility of a convention floor fight against Donald Trump. And Cruz’s emissaries on Capitol Hill are now signaling to senior Republicans that Cruz would be willing to work with them as the GOP nominee in a way Trump would not.

So far, Cruz can tout only two Senate endorsements, from conservative Mike Lee and the deal-making centrist Lindsey Graham. But Senate Republicans are now at least listening to an intensified pitch from Cruz and his allies: That he’s a far more stable choice for the top of the ticket and for the GOP’s hopes of keeping the Senate.

His trouncing of Trump in the Wisconsin primary Tuesday night could bolster Cruz’s case to senators.

“With Cruz we can win the election, hold the Senate,” said former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), who was tapped by Cruz to lead outreach to members of Congress. “I think with Trump we almost certainly lose the Senate, lose the election for president, even lose the House.”