Juliette Kayyem, a former state and national homeland security adviser, has taken a key step toward a potential run for Massachusetts governor.
Kayyem, a Democrat, has formed a campaign committee and filed a statement of organization on Tuesday with the state office of Campaign and Political Finance.
A spokeswoman said a further statement would be released today.
The Cambridge resident most recently served as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Before that she was an undersecretary for homeland security in Gov. Deval Patrick's administration.
If she runs, Kayyem would join a growing list of Democrats seeking to succeed Patrick, who is not running for a third term.
Announced candidates include state Treasurer Steven Grossman, state Sen. Dan Wolf of Cape Cod and Newton physician Don Berwick.
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