Former presidential candidate Ben Carson will be the keynote speaker at the Maine Republican Party state convention this month.

“Maine Republicans have a lot to be excited about, from a slew of great candidates to record participation in the state convention,” party Chairman Rick Bennett wrote in an email to supporters Wednesday. “Dr. Carson will be a great addition to our record year.”

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, was part of a crowded field of Republicans seeking the nomination for president before he ended his campaign in early March after disappointing finishes in Iowa, New Hampshire and several other states on Super Tuesday.

Carson left the race prior to Maine’s Republican caucus on March 5. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, one of three Republicans left in the race, won Maine with 46 percent support, followed by Donald Trump and John Kasich. After withdrawing from the race, Carson gave Trump his endorsement.

Carson, a soft-spoken social conservative who appealed to evangelical voters, will speak following the Maine Republican Party’s presidential dinner on April 22. Tickets are $60.

Boston conservative talk radio host Howie Carr is scheduled to broadcast his show live from the event on Friday.

The party will hold its convention over three days from April 21-23 at the Cross Insurance Convention Center in Bangor.

This story will be updated.