Dancing with the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy has one casting wish for season 35.
“Less politicians,” Chmerkovskiy told Us Weekly on Saturday, Apr. 25.
“One of the things I admire about our show, I love being a part of the fact that in a world quite literally designed to split us all apart and create agony amongst people, we’re a show that creates union and brings people together,” he continued. “Yes, it’s just a dance show, but it’s way more than just a dance show.”
“Dance is just a vehicle to bring people together—of all ages, all political sides,” Chmerkovskiy added. “No one knows who’s voting for who, and we’re all just enjoying ourselves and enjoying two hours a week of just good family fun.”
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Though the three-time champion has never been partnered with someone in the political sphere, the show has previously cast controversial figures like former Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
“My reaction was like, ‘Yo, Sean Spicer’s on the cast!’ That was my reaction calling my brother,” Chmerkovskiy told Peoplein September 2019 after Spicer was cast on season 28 of the reality series.
“But then in the same breath, it’s like, and so is Ray Lewis and so is Lamar Odom and so is Christie Brinkley and so is Hannah [Brown],” he continued. “The thing that makes our show unique and wild and crazy and entertaining is the fact that it’s a collective of all these different people. And you don’t have to agree or follow all these people.”
“They’re all very different,” he concluded at the time. “And the beauty, me being a dance ambassador, is—what I find a lot of pride in is how inclusive dance is and that it doesn’t judge based on any of the past.”
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During Hulu’s “Get Real” event on Wednesday, Apr. 22, DWTS announced their first two celebrity contestants for season 35: Summer House‘s Ciara Miller and Love Island‘s Maura Higgins—who also recently starred on The Traitors.
“Ciara seems very, very dynamic and very positive, and looks like she’s excited to do the show,” Chmerkovskiy told Us Weekly. “Maura seems very lovely as well. I can’t predict either one of them being my partner.”
He added, “It’s kind of like quiet dating or an arranged situation so whoever the casting director puts me with, I will give my all and like I said, every season, they’ll have my undivided attention and effort and focus, and I’ll give them everything I got.”
Dancing with the Stars returns in September 2026.
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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