Candidate who says God punishes gays tries to get back on ballot

Susanne Atanus, left, and David Earl Williams III both have filed to run again in the Republican primary in the 9th Congressional District.

A suburban candidate for Congress whom the local and state Republican Party tried to pull from the ballot over controversial comments in 2014 has signed up to run again.

Susanne Atanus filed petition signatures Monday to get on the ballot as a Republican candidate in the 9th Congressional District.

Cook County GOP Chairman Aaron Del Mar says someone with the party will "for sure" challenge Atanus' petitions in an attempt to get her removed from the race.

Atanus, of Niles, made national headlines in the 2014 primary when she suggested in a Daily Herald endorsement interview that God put tornadoes and diseases such as autism and dementia on Earth in response to gay rights and legalized abortions.

"We will not support her at all," Del Mar said. "We don't want anything to do with her."

Del Mar said the GOP is supporting Joan McCarthy Lasonde of Wilmette for the 9th District seat held by Democrat Jan Schakowsky of Evanston.

David Earl Williams III of Chicago, who was defeated by Atanus in the 2014 primary, also has signed up to run as a Republican in the March 15 primary.

Republicans including the state party chairman tried to get Atanus to quit the race in 2014, but she remained on the ballot.

Atanus said Del Mar and other Republicans shouldn't make negative comments about her campaign.

"Negative comments will get them in trouble," she said.

She said she's staying in the race and directed voters to a video of her comments, arguing her 2014 statements were misreported elsewhere.

"God is angry. We are provoking him. We are provoking him with abortions. We are provoking him with same-sex marriage, gay rights, civil unions," she said at the time.