The Pew Charitable Trusts

Colorado Democrats have proposed a redistricting plan that could hurt one of their most powerful leaders: Senate President Brandon Shaffer, who is running for Congress.

Under the proposal, made public on Monday (August 22), Shaffer's hometown would be shifted from Colorado's 4th Congressional District - where he announced earlier this summer that he would challenge Republican U.S. Representative Cory Gardner - to the 2nd Congressional District , which is now represented by fellow Democrat Jared Polis, according to The Pueblo Chieftain .

Shaffer presumably would be unlikely to challenge Polis, so the map that his own party is touting could be a fatal blow for his nascent campaign. On Monday, he walked a fine line between hailing the plan -which he said would result in more competitive congressional districts statewide - and expressing hope that a judge would ultimately rule that his hometown, Longmont, should stay in the 4th Congressional District.

"It's impossible to predict what a court will ultimately decide, but I'm confident we'll end up with a map that's fair and competitive," Shaffer said in a statement, according to The Chieftain . "I believe that means Longmont will remain in the 4th Congressional District."

Republicans on Monday issued a counterproposal that would keep Shaffer in the 4th Congressional District, but it would favor their own candidate, Gardner, because of a strong GOP advantage in voter registration.