(AP) – Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has taken a new, more left-leaning approach in his second term.

Nixon has long been a Democrat. But he could have passed himself off as a moderate Republican during his first four years as governor. He cut taxes, spending and thousands of government jobs. And Nixon shied far away from President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

Since he won re-election a year ago, however, Nixon has sought to expand Missouri’s Medicaid eligibility under Obama’s health care law. He vetoed a big income tax cut and numerous other bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature. And this past week, Nixon came out in support of gay marriage.

Some political scientists say Nixon appears to be re-positioning himself to appeal to national Democrats.