Former U.S. attorney Doug Jones received a major endorsement Friday when U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, formally gave her support.

Jones, who lives in Birmingham, is among a field of seven candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Senate in the Aug. 15 primary.

Sewell's endorsement carries clout as she is the only Democrat from Alabama currently served in Congress.

"Doug Jones shares the Democratic values that my constituents and I hold dear and he is my choice to represent Alabama in the United States Senate," Sewell said in a statement. "His experience as a US Attorney in fighting for the most vulnerable among us demonstrates his strong commitment to being a voice for the voiceless."

Sewell praised Jones for his prosecution of Thomas Blanton and Bobby Frank Cherry for their roles in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four girls. Jones led the prosecution more than 40 years after the bombing.

"Doug displayed political courage in prosecuting and convicting the last perpetrator of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church which caused the deaths of the 4 little girls," Sewell said. "While it was justice delayed, justice was not denied because Doug made it so. We need that same tenacity in the US Senate fighting for all Alabamians. I plan to vote for Doug Jones for US Senate and urge you to do the same."