Montana Republican Steve Daines drops Senate re-election bid minutes before deadline

Trump ally Daines confirms resignation and withdraws bid for a third term, saying: It is time for new leaders'

Republican US senator Steve Daines of Montana dropped his bid for re-election to a third term Wednesday.

Daines withdrew his name just minutes before the deadline for candidates to file for the November election with the Montana secretary of state's office. Daines confirmed his resignation in a written statement as well as a video posted to social media.