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?