Mystery red heart signs fuel buzz in local legislative race

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

Red heart billboards and yard signs with no names or slogans have been popping up across the Midwest City area, turning heads and sparking questions from residents.

The signs are part of an unconventional campaign strategy by Republican candidate Brent Rinehart, who is running for Oklahoma State House District 95 and has built his campaign image around a single symbol.

The minimalist design has intrigued many in the community, with some residents initially unsure whether the signs were tied to a political campaign at all.

“I don’t know if I can nail it down to just one reason,” Rinehart said when asked why he chose the heart symbol. “One is it creates name ID. But I don’t think that’s the biggest reason.”

Instead, he pointed to a broader message behind the imagery and his campaign style.

“People are so tired of the status quo,” he said. “We have a lot of issues at all levels of government.” He added that the heart reflects his belief that voters are looking for something different. “I’ve always kind of thought outside the box to try and do things differently.”

Rinehart described the symbol as carrying both emotional and symbolic meaning, as well as a nod to his name.

“I’ve always thought the hope, or the heart, kind of gives people hope of something different, something a change of some type,” he said. “The heart symbolizes the people that hope for something better.”

He also acknowledged the ambiguity is part of the strategy.

That curiosity, he said, has sometimes led to unexpected reactions. Recalling one encounter, Rinehart described a resident who connected emotionally with the symbol.

“Every time I see those signs … it gives me so much hope,” he recalled the woman saying. “It does make people feel good. I’ve got feedback on that.”

Rinehart said the heart imagery is not entirely new. He first rolled out the simple heart signs during his Oklahoma City Council campaign about 20 years ago, though he did not use them during his run for Oklahoma County commissioner. The heart is also a play on his last name.

Rinehart said the campaign plans to eventually modify the signs to include his name, tying the recognizable heart symbol more directly to his candidacy.