He rose in popularity for being the the first governor to prohibit vaccine + mask mandates during Covid and for enforcing the "Parental Rights in Education Act", which banned discussion of gender identity ideology in public schools from Grade 3 and under. Recently he performed a political stunt where he sent 50 immigrants to Martha's Vineyard (an area home to the elites & political oppositions) to educate firsthand to his Democrat oppositions on why open border policy is an issue.