TAMPA, Fla. — House Republicans, who less than two years ago were the fresh insurgent face of their political party, are being granted little prominence at the Republican National Convention as Mitt Romney takes over — even though one of their own, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, has a starring role.

A stream of Republican incumbents and House challengers did take the stage at the convention Tuesday, including embattled freshmen eager for a news media boost and promising newcomers hoping for some limelight. But that was in the gathering’s slow opening hours.

The spotlight will shine on only a few, including Sean P. Duffy of Wisconsin, a friend of Mr. Ryan’s, and Mia Love, an African-American running for Congress in Utah whose presence here has meant at least as much to the Republican Party as her speaking slot on Tuesday night meant to her. Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio is taking on a large role helping to run the floor show, but Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader more closely aligned with the Tea Party-fueled freshmen, was not given a speaking slot.

Yes, one House Republican, Mr. Ryan, received his party’s nomination for vice president on Tuesday, but the scarcity of his colleagues here may reflect the unease within the party for an institution whose popularity is near rock bottom.