U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced Monday that she had formed an exploratory committee as a prelude to a run for president in 2020 -- ending speculation as to whether the high-profile Massachusetts Democrat would mount a White House bid.

The senator revealed her 2020 intentions in a video message.

"We can make our democracy work for all of us. We can make our ecomomy work for all of us.We can rebuild America's middle class - but this time, we gotta build it for everyone," she said in a 4 minute, 29-second statement posted on Twitter and her campaign website.

Every person in America should be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, & take care of themselves & the people they love. That’s what I’m fighting for, & that’s why I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. I need you with me: https://t.co/BNl2I1m8OX pic.twitter.com/uXXtp94EvY — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 31, 2018

Warren also changed the handle on her official Twitter account over the weekend. It is now @ewarren and her profile information ends with, "Official account: 2020 Exploratory Committee." Previously her account handle was @elizabethforma. She has 2.14 million followers. The banner header reads, "We will rebuild the middle class."

Warren, who won re-election to the U.S. Senate over Republican challenger Geoff Diehl in the 2018 midterm contest, had been coy about whether she would serve the full six-year term on Capitol Hill.

For years, Warren, a progressive leader and high-profile figure in Democratic politics, has faced questions over whether she would make a White House run.

Ahead of the 2016 election, Democracy for America and MoveOn.org Political Action launched the "Run Warren Run" campaign to push the senator to enter the presidential race.

Although the Democrat decided against running in 2016, rumors about a potential White House run continued to swirl as Warren gained national attention for her vocal criticism of President Donald Trump and GOP leaders.

That speculation hit a fever pitch just months ahead of her re-election, when the senator told supporters at a Holyoke town hall that she would consider running for president after the 2018 midterm election.

"It is time for women to go to Washington and fix our broken government and that includes a woman at the top," she said. "After Nov. 6, I will take a hard look at running for president."

The Washington Post reported that ahead of the September town hall announcement, Warren had launched campaign activities across the country to position herself "for an all-but-certain 2020 presidential bid."

Warren doubled down on her plan to consider a White House run when asked in a late-October WCVB U.S. Senate debate whether she'd serve her full term if re-elected.

"I've already said that I will take a look at running for president after the election," she told. "But I can guarantee this: No matter what I do, I will work for the people of the commonwealth of Massachusetts."

The Democrat further stoked rumors of a 2020 White House run after releasing DNA test results that appeared to back her claims of Native American ancestry -- an issue which had dogged the senator since her 2012 run against Republican Scott Brown.

In addition to the DNA results, Warren's campaign also put out a video highlighting her "family story" and Native American heritage.

Political observers had predicted that Warren would announce her 2020 plans in early 2019.