Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones received endorsements from at least a dozen Black clergymen Monday for his bid for Congress — a key approval ahead of a contentious race to replace outgoing Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.

The support comes after Jones lost out on the coveted endorsement from Wilson, which went to former Miami-Dade County commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who once served as Miami Gardens mayor. Kendrick Meek, grandson of the late congresswoman Carrie Meek, received the endorsement from South Carolina representative Jim Clyburn, considered a kingmaker in elections.

Monday’s endorsements, which were announced at Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in Miami Gardens, comes a week after Jones took the debate stage against seven of his ten opponents in which they fielded questions about affordability, education and federal policy.

Ahead of the announcement, Pastors Cristino Pinales and Jean Claude-Louis, and Reverend Gregory Thompson led the event with a prayer in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and English.

Jones, the son of a pastor, said the endorsement meant a lot because his “foundation is the church,“ he said.

“My mom and my father, they built the values of what we believe in,” he said. “I keep saying faith and service. My dad did not play when it came to how we serve people. My dad will always say, ‘You cannot lead the people if you don’t love the people.’”

Black clergy endorsements are key in rallying Black voters during elections dating back to at least the Civil Rights Movement. A Pew Research Center poll found that 62% of Black parishioners valued political sermons on topics such as race relations and immigration at the pulpit.

Pastors touted Jones willingness to show up in the district and be there for residents as reasons they’re backing him in a congressional district which includes parts of Broward like Miramar and West Park and spans as far south in Miami-Dade County as Liberty City and Little Haiti.

“We’ve watched this man show up again and again and lead us with purpose,” Pastor Robert Jackson told the more than 100 attendees. “Church, the future isn’t built by spectators, it’s built by servants, by citizens, by people who are willing to put their voice behind their values.”

Jackson went through a list of legislation Jones has championed – including the passing of Curtis’ Law which advocates for families whose minor children have been victims of crime; the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act; and most recently the passing of the Teddy Bridgewater Act, which allows high school coaches to pay for some expenses for their players without being penalized – that spoke to the kind of values the coalition of faith leaders looked for in a leader.

“This is not a record that’s been built on speeches, but this is a record that’s been built on service,” he said of Jones.

Pastor Richard Dunn said Jones’ record of showing up for residents no matter their economic status is what makes him “personable and approachable,” and that Jones is not afraid to confront politicians he disagrees with.

“He is prepared. He is powerful. He doesn’t mind standing the governor eye-to-eye, and the president,” Dunn said. “A lot of folks talk about what they gone do. Shev has already done it.”

Along with his supporters behind the pulpit, Jones has backing from labor unions like the United Teachers of Dade and Florida AFL-CIO and from national entities such as nonprofits such as LGBTQ+ advocacy group SAVE, and several current and former elected officials.

Still, Jones emphasized in an Instagram video to his supporters that they have the final say. “There is only one endorsement that will decide this race, and that is yours,” he said.

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