He ran as an anti-status-quo candidate more than a thoroughbred Republican largely because the Democrats had already fielded a (IMO terrible) candidate and the Democrats now represent "business as usual" in DC. He is and always has been more of an Independent than a Republican. The one most important issue he identifies with is fiscal conservatism, which USED to be a Republican position.
There is nothing about him that I can find that would indicate he is anything other than a strong-minded Independent, although I would like to learn more about him.