AMNA NAWAZ: David Beasley spent more than three decades as a Republican, serving as South Carolina's governor before leading Nobel Peace Prize-winning efforts at the United Nations World Food Program.

But in a recent op-ed, he announced he's walking away from his party, as he laments a rise in toxic vitriol emanating from the GOP standard-bearer, President Trump.

And David Beasley joins us now from South Carolina.

Governor, welcome back to the "News Hour."

Thanks for being with us.

DAVID BEASLEY, Former Executive Director, World Food Program: Amna, good to be with you.

Thank you very much.

AMNA NAWAZ: So here is the key line I want to share with viewers from your commentary that published in yesterday's Post and Courier.

You write about the Republican Party -- quote -- "This is not the party that I knew, and it is not a party that I consider myself a member of."

So have you officially left the party?

Are you now an independent or a Democrat?

DAVID BEASLEY: Well, what I am now is an American.

And that op-ed was not meant to be a party switch thing.

It was a declaration that I'm very concerned about what's happening in American politics.

I have run -- I have been elected seven times as a Democrat, one time as a Republican.

And what I tell people today is that vote for the right person regardless of which party they're in that's good for America.

And I think what I have experienced just in the past few years, the vitriolic language, the demeaning, divisive, degrading that has taken place is just completely out of control.

And I don't want to be associated with that.

I haven't changed my values.

I haven't changed my views.

We can find out the differences of issues.

That's America.

But this name-calling and lying about each other and just degrading one another, building yourself up by tearing somebody else down, that's going to destroy this country.

And I have seen it when I was working in countries all over the world with warlords and extremists.

And this is the direction we're heading, and it's not good for America.

AMNA NAWAZ: I think it's also fair to say there's been a lack of civility for many years now.

We have seen a lot of that name-calling and the insults for many years.

So why speak out now?

What pushed you over the edge?

DAVID BEASLEY: Well, as you well know, I have spent the last many years out there in war zones in complex areas.

Eighty percent of our operations in the World Food Program were in areas of war and conflict and violence.

And I have seen what happens when people stop sitting down and talking to one another and start yelling at each other, hollering at each other, not discussing the issues that are good for the people of their particular nation or area.

And that's the trajectory that we're on right now in America.

America can't survive.

We will balkanize this country if we continue this trajectory.

So I'm speaking out now because we have gone way over the line, and we have got to bring it back.

And I'm asking leaders in both parties to do that.

And I pray for this president.

He's got over two years left.

And I have done this with every dictator and extremist and leader in the world, where I say, be the leader that the people of your country need.

President Trump has two more years.

Be that leader that the country needs that will bring this nation back together.

That's what I'm calling on all parties, and particularly the leaders in the parties, because that's what the American people want.

AMNA NAWAZ: As you mentioned, you did begin your career as a Democrat.

You switched to Republican Party in the early '90s or so.

Would you consider running for office again?

And if you did so, would it be as a Democrat?

DAVID BEASLEY: When I ran as a Republican in 1994, I made the decision then that the Republican -- I mean, the parties are a vehicle, a tool to achieve the goals and objectives that you think you want for a state or a nation or a community.

And so I made the decision then that what South Carolina needed for jobs, economic development, infrastructure, and the things that we need to rise our -- raise our state our state up, I said the Republican Party is that vehicle to achieve the goals and objectives.

Today, what I'm focused on is going across America in a breaking bread together tour to bring people together, bring civility back to the process, and I'm asking the voters, vote for a D or vote for an R, depending upon which is the best candidate for that position.

But don't be wed to any party.

Be wed to the ideals that make this nation great.

When I was in the House, my -- House of Representatives -- my best friends are usually my biggest enemies on the floor.

We would fight it out, but then we would go have dinner together.

That's America.

And that's what we have got to get back to.

AMNA NAWAZ: I think it's also fair to say there have been a lot of other efforts to try to bridge some of the same divides you're talking about right now.

What makes you optimistic your effort's going to be successful where all those have failed?

DAVID BEASLEY: I think the spirit and the harmony that people desire in this country is bringing people out of the woodwork, saying, hey, we have gone too far.

And what I have seen so far -- and, Amna, I saw it in other countries, and I would have people: "I can't believe you're meeting with those warlords."

I said: "Well, I have to.

I have got to talk to them to gain access to feed hungry children that are starving to death."

And I have found that, if you come in, no matter who it is and show a little respect and touch the heart, that amazing things happen.

AMNA NAWAZ: Governor, before I let you go, you have been asking voters to look at the merits of each candidate before they pick who they support.

And in the South Carolina Senate race, I got to ask, who are you backing on the merits?

AMNA NAWAZ: Is it the Republican, Darline Graham, or the Democrat, Annie Andrews?

DAVID BEASLEY: Well, you got two good candidates.

And, actually, about a week ago, when I saw some of the just trash material coming out about Annie, which just wasn't true, I spoke out saying this is wrong, this is not true.

Look at the merits of the candidates and make an informed decision.

That's what I'm asking the voters in South Carolina to do.

Don't vote based on party.

Vote based on the credentials of the candidate that represents their values, not based on the trash talk and the lies and deception that that's coming out there today.

AMNA NAWAZ: You know the state so well.

Do you really think a Democrat can win in South Carolina?

DAVID BEASLEY: What's happening across America is absolutely remarkable.

I think, no matter which party, if the right candidate puts out the right values and the right views, shows authenticity, integrity, honor, and some humble spirit, well, I don't think there's any doubt people in South Carolina will vote for the right candidate, regardless of party.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, that's former South Carolina Governor, former head of the World Food Program David Beasley joining us tonight.

Governor Beasley, always great to talk to you.

Thank you.

DAVID BEASLEY: Thank you, Amna.