MACHIAS — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ralph Nader accusing Democrats of conspiring to keep him off the ballot in the 2004 presidential race.

Washington County Superior Court Justice Kevin Cuddy on Tuesday granted a motion by the Maine Democratic Party, the Democratic National Committee and other groups and individuals to throw out the suit.

In his 2009 complaint, Nader contended that Democratic leaders used illegal and malicious tactics to try to keep him off the ballot in Maine and more than a dozen other states. Nader appeared on the 2004 presidential ballots in 34 states. George W. Bush won the election.

The suit was initially filed in the District of Columbia, where it was tossed out because the three-year statute of limitations expired.