A Washington state judge is rejecting a Libertarian Party lawsuit that sought to block Mitt Romney from the November ballot.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee determined Thursday that Republicans took the necessary steps to retain their status as a major party. Libertarians had argued that the GOP should now be considered a minor party because it didn't officially nominate a U.S. Senate candidate during the 2010 convention.

McPhee determined that the party did eventually select a candidate, Dino Rossi, in a private meeting.

Minor party candidates can get on the presidential ballot by holding a nominating convention within the state and collecting at least 1,000 qualifying signatures.