Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval isn't viewed favorably by many of his Republican counterparts, but his methods and legislative proposals have led to one of the highest governor ratings in the country.

Support Across Party Lines

Sandoval abandoned a lifetime appointment as federal district judge to run for Nevada's governorship in 2010, eventually defeating Rory Reid -- U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's son -- by 12-percentage points. In doing so, he was the first-ever Latino to serve as the Silver State's governor.

Part of the reason Nevadans elected him to a second term was because Sandoval didn't govern like an establishment politician. He took a five percent pay cut to coincide with a 2011 budget proposal that would cause hundreds of layoffs. Around the same time he turned down a pay raise that would have increased his annual salary near $150,000.

By December 2015, Nevada was reporting 60 consecutive months of job growth and an unemployment rate near 6 percent in a state impacted by the Great Recession just seven years earlier.

His approval rating received bi-partisan acclaim, according to a comprehensive study by Morning Consult. Sandoval had a favorability rating from two-thirds of Nevada residents. Only two governors -- Maryland's Larry Hogan and South Dakota's Dennis Daugaard -- received more acclaim.

Nothing seemed to faze his constituents, not even the state's largest-ever tax hike.

Sandoval's Tax Plan

During his 2015 State of the State address, six months before a Republican-led Assembly approved legislation raising taxes by $1.1 billion, Sandoval announced how he would improve the state's destitute education system.

"I submit to you this evening that an education system for this century requires bold new ideas to meet the reality of our time," Sandoval said. "I am asking the Legislature to join me in beginning the work on comprehensive modernization of our education system to meet the needs of today's students and the New Nevada. This work begins with our youngest learners."

The focal point of his second term was improving K-12 education by increasing business taxes. Businesses generating over $1 million in annual revenue would pay a two-percent tax that would fund the state's schools.

Some Republicans, however, believed the plan was shortsighted because it insinuated that throwing money at the education problem would fix it. Nearly 80 percent of Nevada voters thought the same, rejecting similar legislation two months earlier. Democrats who failed to pass education reform bills during the two previous election cycles, however, loved it.

The conservative governor appeared to have a left-leaning agenda.

Contempt Among Republicans

One of the reasons Harry Reid championed a new caucus was because of his state's diversity. Nevada carries the country's sixth-largest Latino population, while other caucus and primary states are predominately white.

Republican presidential hopefuls mostly shied away from referring to Sandoval, the son of Mexican immigrants, by name during the stump speeches. Cruz, for one, insinuated that Sandoval is the type of politician to identify with one party but side with another.

"The people of Nevada has some experience with politicians who say one thing and do another," said Cruz, speaking in Carson City on Tuesday. "Politicians who campaign on cutting taxes then vote in a massive increase."

Cruz added that a leader's "first priority is to honor the commitments they made to the people who elected (them)."

It isn't just Sandoval's liberal view on taxes Republicans have a problem with. Sandoval distanced himself from the lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration, though Nevada is one of 26 states participating. He also goes against the grain in favoring abortion rights, saying it should be a woman's choice.

Sandoval was the first Republican governor to implement Obamacare. In December 2013, just before citizens were required to have medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act, he told Politico that he wouldn't block Obama's law.

Declining a Supreme Court Seat

Obama and GOP lawmakers have gone back and forth over the last two weeks over the president's right to nominate a new Supreme Court justice in the wake of Antonin Scalia's death.

The president cites his constitutional right as reason for selecting a replacement before his term ends. Republicans say the decision should wait until next year, after November's general election. Rumors circulated Wednesday morning that Obama would disregard GOP congressmen's request and nominate a candidate: the conservative yet liberal-thinking Sandoval. Hours later, Sandoval took himself out of consideration.

"Earlier today, I notified the White House that I do not wish to be considered at this time for possible nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States," Sandoval said in statement. "The notion of being considered for a seat on the highest court in the land is beyond humbling and I am incredibly grateful to have been mentioned."

Sandoval was a solid pick for two reasons: One, he's a Latino Republican with high marks among constituents and secondly, he would also have become the second consecutive Hispanic appointed to the Supreme Court.

Finding a candidate with as much bi-partisan influence will be difficult for Obama, or whoever takes his place in January.