NYC mayor Bill de Blasio avoids questions about N.Y. gubernatorial run

So is outgoing New York City mayor Bill de Blasio entering the governor's race in New York State?

If he is, he is being particularly coy about it.

In an appearance Tuesday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe", de Blasio -- whose term ends on Dec. 31 -- wouldn't give a direct answer when asked if he was throwing his hat in the ring.

“I want to continue in public service, and there’s a lot that needs to be fixed in Albany, there’s a lot that needs to be changed in the state of New York. I think anybody who is watching the country for these last years has seen dysfunction in our state capital, seen scandal. This state has fallen behind in some ways that we really must address,” de Blasio said on the morning program.

“So I look forward to being part of the discussion of where our state needs to go in the future. I’ll tell you more about the politics, a little bit down the line, but I gotta tell you, I’m excited and I’m energized to get out there and continue to serve.”

New York voters are deciding upon de Blasio's replacement Tuesday in the city's race for mayor between Democratic candidate Eric Adams and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa.

De Blasio, 60, who is coming off a failed presidential bid two years ago, is completing his second term as mayor.

If de Blasio does enter New York's gubernatorial race, he will be part of what might be a crowded Democratic field that includes current governor Kathy Hochul, who replaced Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in August amid a sexual harassment scandal.

Fellow Democrat and current New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced last week that she is also running for governor.

Among those seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination are Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island.

De Blasio, meanwhile, filed paperwork last week to create a committee called New Yorkers for a Fair Future that will allow him to raise funds for a statewide campaign, according to the Associated Press.

Despite filing that paperwork, de Blasio kept his political aspirations close to the vest on Tuesday.

“Draw your own conclusions,” he said with a grin during an appearance on CNN.