Meet the Republican National Convention speakers

This year’s selection of speakers each have support from differing bases around the country and within the party, as Republicans attempt to broaden their appeal to voters.

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Artur Davis

Former Rep. Artur Davis, who served in the House as a Democrat from Alabama from 2003 to 2011, says he has been given a speaking slot at the Aug. 27-30 Republican National Convention in Tampa. At the 2008 Democratic convention, Davis officially seconded President Obama’s nomination. He has since become a vocal supporter of GOP candidate Mitt Romney.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will deliver the keynote address at the Republican convention. Christie, an outspoken first-term governor, was once considered a candidate for Mitt Romney's running mate.

Mel Evans / AP

Marco Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will introduce Mitt Romney on the last night of the Republican convention. Rubio has campaigned with Romney and was considered to be on the short list for a vice presidential nod.

John Locher / AP

Rick Santorum

The former senator from Pennsylvania campaigned hard against Mitt Romney in the GOP primaries, winning several states but never overtaking Romney in the delegate count. He has a focus on social conservatism but will likely promote party unity as a speaker.

Charlie Riedel / AP

Rand Paul

The selection of the senator from Kentucky as a speaker is likely an effort to woo his tea party supporters, many of whom are not strictly tied to the Republican Party.

Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

Jeb Bush

The former Florida governor and son of former president George H.W. Bush has been thought of as both a possible presidential and vice-presidential candidate throughout this race. His selection as a speaker may be related to his active stance on education reform.

Wilfredo Lee / AP

Mary Fallin

In addition to being the first woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma since the 1920s, Fallin was also the first woman to serve both as lieutenant governor and governor (her current post) of the state. Her selection as a speaker is likely an effort to gain more female support for the GOP.

Garett Fisbeck / AP

Nikki Haley

An Indian American and at 40 years old currently the youngest sitting governor, the South Carolina leader may have been selected to exhibit the youth and diversity of the Republican Party.

Mary Ann Chastain / AP

John Kasich

Kasich's selection as a speaker could be tied to the fact that he is the governor of Ohio, a crucial swing state for Republicans in this year's race.

Tony Dejak / AP

Rick Scott

Like Kasich, Scott is also a freshman governor from a crucial swing state in this year's race: Florida. He has also endured a rough first few years as governor, garnering him support within the party.

Alex Wong / Getty Images

Condoleezza Rice

The secretary of state during the George W. Bush administration will play a large role at the convention as a speaker, as she may appeal to moderate voters and reassure concerns over Romney's foreign policy credentials.

Rogelio V. Solis / AP

Susana Martinez

The New Mexico governor may represent the Republicans' effort to reach out to Hispanic voters, as she is a successful leader serving a heavily Democratic state.

Susan Montoya Bryan / AP

Mike Huckabee

The 2008 GOP presidential hopeful and Fox News commentator’s success at communicating with voters nationally may have earned him this speaker spot. The ordained Southern Baptist Minister and former Arkansas governor also appeals to Christian conservatives.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

John McCain

The Arizona senator is a fixture in the Republican Party. While he edged out Romney for the party’s nomination in 2008, McCain has been a vocal supporter of the presumptive nominee in this year’s campaign.

Don Burk / AP

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

epa03714567 A Thai Buddhist family take an offering of lotus flowers to pay respects to a giant Buddha surrounded by more than 1,000 smaller Buddha statues at a Buddhism Park, on Vesak or Visakha Bucha day, in Nakhon Nayok, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 May 2013. Buddhist devotees throughout the world offer blessings at temples to mark one of the holiest days in Buddhism, commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. EPA/BARBARA WALTON

Photos of the day

Buddhist Wesak festival, prisoners-of-war reunion, bridge collapse, world’s largest Lego model and more.

A portion of the Interstate 5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit River dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Skagit Valley Herald, Frank Varga)

I-5 bridge collapse in Washington state dumps vehicles, passengers into river

No fatalities reported; collapse over Skagit River shuts down main route between Seattle and Canada.

SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Flexing their muscles

Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.

epa03714543 US actress Carmen Electra arrives for the Life Ball gala, at the airport Schwechat, in Vienna, Austria, 24 May 2013. The 21th Life Ball, an annual fundraising charity event for HIV and Aids projects, takes place at the Vienna City-Hall on 25 May 2013. EPA/HERBERT NEUBAUER

Eye on entertainment

Carmen Electra, Barbara Eden, Sharon Stone, Goldie Hawn, Jaden Smith and more.

A police forensics officer investigates a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of his government's emergency Cobra security committee after the killing of a man in south London, his office said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Terrorism cited in London cleaver attack

Two assailants hacked to death a British soldier on a busy southeast London neighborhood street Wednesday afternoon before delivering an apparent...

MOORE, OK - MAY 24: A 'For Sale' sign hangs in a tree in a storm ravaged neighborhood on May 24, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado of EF5 strength and two miles wide touched down May 20 killing at least 24 people and leaving behind extensive damage to homes and businesses. U.S. President Barack Obama promised federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Assessing tornado damage in Oklahoma

Amid great destruction, residents of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore begin to assess the severity of the twister that hit Monday.

WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mr. D.C. Pageant contestants compete for charity

Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Animal views

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

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