The whole business of announcing a political candidacy has become more and more ritualistic. Take, for instance, the case of House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

For months, the Minneapolis DFLer has made it clear that she plans to get into the race for the DFL nomination for governor.

Today, she took another step toward “officially” getting into the race by posting a message on Twitter saying she is running. Kelliher’s campaign website reports she’s filed the paperwork to start her campaign. She also has sent a letter to supporters.

“Over the past few months I have traveled the state talking to Minnesotans just like you,” she writes. “Today with the support of my family, friends and people across the state, I took the first step to become our next governor by filing the necessary paperwork to run.”

But, of course, none of this means she’s absolutely/formally/officially in the race.

“In a few weeks I will formally announce my candidacy,’’ she wrote in the letter to supporters.

Won’t that be dramatic.