Former secretary of state and first lady begins campaign for 2016 White House with launch of new website, ending years of speculation about whether she would make a second attempt at the highest office in the United States.

Hillary Clinton announced on Sunday that she was running for president of the United States, promising to be a champion of middle-class Americans if she made it to the White House as the country’s first female commander in chief.

“Everyday Americans need a champion, and I’m going to be that champion,” the former secretary of state and first lady said in a video posted to her website, as she warned “the deck is still stacked in favour of those at the top” despite an economic recovery.

Speaking to camera at the end of a three-minute clip featuring personal stories from Americans of different ages, ethnicities and sexualities, Clinton pledged to ensure people could “get ahead and stay ahead” rather than “just get by”.

The announcement brought an end to years of speculation over whether Clinton would make a second bid to become the first female US president and secure a place in history by interrupting a line of 44 male commanders in chief.