No big surprises hele: Hillman was right-of-center type Democrat, and Wardlow - probably the most conservative Democrat in Arkansas legislature and among five most conservative Democratic legislators in the nation (in fact - he was more conservative then some Republican legislators in Arkansas). Taking into consideration that Republicans will, most likely, be in full control of the state for at least 20 years - rather natural decision. Some years ago similar situation existed in Mississippi and Louisiana, with literally dozens Democratic state legislators switching. With fewer blacks then in these two states Arkansas Democratic party is still not "a black party", but - becoming so....
Per Wikipedia, Jeff Wardlaw is very young (graduated from college in 2002). Why was someone this conservative of his generation ever in the Democratic Party to begin with?
Until about 2010 Arkansas on legislative level was very Democratic. Including many conservative Democrats (though Wardlaw was one of the most conservative even among them). And his district is Southern Arkansas is, ancestrally, very Democratic. But - strictly in Southern sense of the word. Florida Panhandle was very Democratic and very conservative (on local level - still is in some counties) until relatively recent times too..
I could understand if he were some 70 year old who got started in politics when the coalitions were very different. But for someone born in the 1980s to be a conservative and a Democrat is as illogical as being a liberal and a Republican. It would be like someone in their 30s in Massachusetts running as a Republican while not actually agreeing with the party on anything and voting to the left of many Democrats (though that sounds like something a lot of people on this forum would do).
I;m to the left on Republicans on a few things(SSM, Gun Control, Taxes, and Military Spending) but it doesn't make me any less Republican than other Republicans on here. I do view myself as a Progressive or Left Libertarian idealogy wise.
Your first point is right though why would somebody born in the 1980's switch parties? Its not like the 2 parties coalitions have changed that drastically changed since a 1980's Born graduated HS in the 1990's or 2000's. Usually when you are young you start off as an Independent and than slowly you start to drift to one of the major two parties and than permanently "affiliate" with that party unless party coalitions change like they did in the 1980's/early 1990's but Wardlaw didn't graduate HS until 1998 probably.
