Less than a week after ending her Senate exploratory effort in Florida, Rep. Corrine Brown (D) on Thursday endorsed fellow Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) in next year’s statewide contest.

“Kendrick Meek is a champion for Florida’s interests in Congress, and no other candidate will better represent our state’s interests in the U.S. Senate,— Brown said in a statement released by Meek’s campaign on Thursday. “I look forward to campaigning alongside Congressman Meek and working together to deliver the crucial votes in north and central Florida needed for his victory.—

Both Meek and Brown are members of the Congressional Black Caucus. When the Congresswoman first announced her exploratory effort in May, some caucus members privately wondered whether there was bad blood between the younger Meek — who jumped into the race earlier in the cycle — and the nine-term Congresswoman. If Brown had run against Meek, it would have been the first time that two Members of the CBC faced off in a statewide primary.But Brown emphasized her close relationship with the Meek family in her statement on Thursday.

“I have known Kendrick for many years, and his mother, my former colleague Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, is a close personal friend,— Brown said. “Kendrick and I have worked together in the House and I know we will work together when he gets to the Senate.—Before she announced last Friday that she would run for re-election in 2010, Federal Election Commission reports show that Brown raised $182,000 for her Senate exploratory committee and earned donations from three of her fellow colleagues.

Those donations include a $1,000 check from the leadership political action committee of Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and $2,000 checks from the campaign committees of Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.).