PORTLAND (AP) — A judge has denied a request by the Independent Party of Oregon to allow candidates to be listed on the ballot as the nominee of more than one party.

Oregon elections officials say state law allows a candidate to list only one party.

The Independent Party nominated three Democrats and a Republican for the November ballot.

One of the candidates the Independent Party nominated — Democrat Jeff Merkley, who is running for the U.S. Senate — says he likes the idea of multiple party nominations.

But the attorney for the Independent Party, Linda Williams, said the ruling Friday by Marion County Circuit Judge Paul Lipscomb ends the debate, at least for this election year.