By KATIE GLUECK | POLITICO

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a possible 2016 presidential contender who has overtly encouraged California businesses to move to the Lone Star State, will headline the California Republican Party’s convention this fall.

Mark Standriff, a spokesman for the party, confirmed the GOP governor’s speaking slot in a brief interview.

“I’d say the tremendous amount of success the state of Texas has had under Gov. Perry’s leadership, not only promoting job growth but also providing more opportunities for entrepreneurs, is something California Republicans not only can respect,” he told POLITICO, “but would hope our own Legislature would start to emulate.”

Perry earlier this year swung through the Golden State for meetings with business leaders, following an ad he launched on California airwaves that encouraged relocation to Texas. He has offered similar messages to other places, including Illinois.

“Building a business is tough, but I hear building a business in California is next to impossible,” he said in the ad, which drew a jab from California’s Democratic governor, Jerry Brown. The spot continued, “This is Texas Gov. Rick Perry and I have a message for California businesses: Come check out Texas.”

The convention is in Anaheim in early October and will offer a large and captive audience for Perry, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2012 and hasn’t ruled out a 2016 bid.

(PHOTOS: Rick Perry’s career)

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