Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) will address the Conservative Political Action Conference next month, the American Conservative Union announced Monday.
“Governor Rick Perry has been successful in leading Texas with strong fiscally conservative policies,” ACU chairman Al Cardenas said in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming Governor Perry back to the CPAC stage in March.”
Perry, a former presidential candidate, also spoke at the annual GOP gathering last year shortly after ending his bid for the 2012 Republican nomination. The governor has yet to make a decision on whether to run for a fourth term in 2014, but has expressed interest in throwing his hat in the presidential ring again in 2016.
Perry joins a growing roster of potential 2016 hopefuls who will address the popular event, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), former vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, and former Florida governor Jeb Bush.
Other high-profile speakers include former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former vice presidential candiate and Alaska governor Sarah Palin. The event will mark Romney's first major public appearance since losing November's election.
The event, which will be held in the Washington, D.C. area next month, draws thousands of conservatives each year. The three-day conference traditionally concludes with a straw poll to pick an early favorite for the Republican presidential nomination. Romney won last year's poll, while former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) picked up the title in 2011 and 2010.
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