Within the painting there are several symbols, including a train to represent the Governor's light rail iniative, a cigar in his hand, a Navy Seal team pin and Navy jump wings on the lapel of his dark suit, the Minneapolis skyline in the backgroud which is where he grew up, a golf course representing a pastime he enjoyed, and a figure of Rodin's "The Thinker," used in a campaign ad to represent "Jesse the Mind."