Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor and former Republican National Committee chairman, says he's thinking about launching a gubernatorial bid next year.

"We're looking at it," he said during a Monday appearance on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown.

Steele served one term as the state's first African-American lieutenant governor and last ran for elected office in 2006, when he lost a bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin. And while he considers his tenure as head of the RNC a success, pointing to the GOP gaining control of the House, others have a different view. Reince Priebus, who replaced him, has asserted that Steele left the party in grave financial trouble.

Steele says he won't decide until the end of the year, but acknowledged it won't be an easy campaign if he does decide to run.

“Maryland is a tough state," he said.

Nor would Steele be the only African-American in the race. The state's current lieutenant governor, Democrat Anthony Brown, has announced plans to run and a running mate.

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