Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said that the results in recent special elections show that 2018 could be “very, very ugly” for the GOP.

“In the seven special elections held in 2017, the average shift from 2016 results was D+16. Tonight, it's D+20. 2018 will be very, very ugly unless something cataclysmic happens for GOP,” Shapiro tweeted on Tuesday night.

In the seven special elections held in 2017, the average shift from 2016 results was D+16. Tonight, it's D+20. 2018 will be very, very ugly unless something cataclysmic happens for GOP. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 13, 2018

The commentator and editor-in-chief of the conservative publication The Daily Wire made the comments during a tight race in the Pennsylvania House special election. President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE had won the district by nearly 20 points in the 2016 election.

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He said that factors like a strong economy should mean that public opinion is in favor of Republicans while they’re in control of the government.

“Which says that the popularity of the president is a serious factor in Democratic turnout,” Shapiro added.

Worth noting: all the normal factors should be cutting in GOP favor, outside of being the party in power. The economy is good, and we have no serious foreign crises. Which says that the popularity of the president is a serious factor in Democratic turnout. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 13, 2018

He also dismissed comments that described Democratic candidate Conor Lamb as a Republican, saying that Lamb's "a Democrat tailored for the district."

Lamb is facing off against GOP candidate Rick Saccone in a surprisingly competitive race for the Pennsylvania House seat.

"If Democrats are smart enough to run non-Pelosi types in red districts, that will exacerbate the GOP wipeout," Shapiro said, referring to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiAs families deal with coronavirus, new federal dollars should follow the student Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates Hypocrisy rules on both sides over replacing Justice Ginsburg MORE (D-Calif.).

All the talk about Lamb running as a Republican is beside the point. He's a Democrat tailored for the district. If Democrats are smart enough to run non-Pelosi types in red districts, that will exacerbate the GOP wipeout. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 13, 2018

And as @ezraklein notes, there are 118 Republican-held seats that went for Trump by fewer points than PA-18. The vast majority will go Republican, of course. But Dems only need 24. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 13, 2018

Democrats have pointed to a possible upset by Lamb as an argument to run Democratic candidates in traditionally red districts in an attempt to flip Congress from GOP control.

Democrats have to win 24 seats in the 2018 midterms to take control of the House.