Unity and freedom.

Those were two themes from this weekend's statewide Lincoln Dinner, where Republicans from across the Commonwealth gathered ahead of this year's general election.

Our Emily Prince was on the scene in Lexington Saturday and has more.

It was a who's who for the Republican Party of Kentucky here at the Lincoln Day dinner in Lexington on Saturday night.

Nearly 1000 attendees got to hear from candidates of the Republican Party for U.S.

Congress, as well as Andy Barr, who is running for United States Senate.

Ladies and gentlemen, this campaign is about Kentucky.

Common sense versus crazy.

Barr spoke directly against his Democratic challenger, Charles Booker, comparing him to Zoran Mamdani, the democratic socialist mayor of New York.

Today in America, freedom is under attack.

A growing, powerful, left wing, woke socialist and crazy ideology is on the march.

If we let it, it will come to Kentucky.

And my fellow Republicans, I will not let it.

Barr sailed to success in the Republican primary over former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris, who dropped out of the race after being offered an ambassador position by President Donald Trump.

Barr told reporters after Saturday night's event that he had spoken with Cameron and Morris a few times since the election.

The party is very, very unified after that primary, as I said in my speech.

That competition made me a better candidate.

So I thank both of them.

The current congressman stayed strong on his political messaging, battling for lower taxes, a strong national defense and more.

Common sense tells us that we are a nation of immigrants and that we welcome people to our country, but they have to come legally or they should not be here at all.

And common sense tells us that boys, our boys and girls are our girls, and biological men should not be allowed to compete against girls in sports.

Bar told me he plans to participate in more than one debate with Charles Booker before the November election.

Unity was a keynote of Saturday's event after a few contentious primary races.

One of those was in Kentucky's fourth congressional district.

Retired Navy Seal Ed Gal Ryan defeated incumbent Thomas Massie with about 55% of the vote.

Gal Ryan, who was hand-picked by Trump to run in the race, promised to continue the president's agenda.

The president knows he cannot do it alone, which is why he asked me to serve the Commonwealth, our party and nation again.

We must continue to work as a team to elect committed conservative Republicans up and down the ballot.

Doctor Ralph Alvarado will face a highly contested general election in the sixth Congressional District.

His Democratic challenger, Zack Jimbo, has received an endorsement from Governor Andy Beshear and many other high profile Democrats.

This seat doesn't belong to Andy Beshear.

This seat belongs to the people of Central Kentucky.

If we hold this seat, we preserve a voice for faith, freedom, personal responsibility, secure borders, strong families, and constitutional government.

Another voice for faith, family and freedom was Maria Rodriguez, a Cuban immigrant who is running in the third Congressional District, which encompasses almost all of Louisville.

Rodriguez talks about her experience growing up in a communist country.

I am running because I love this country, and I know what it's like to live without freedom.

I know what happens when faith is pushed out of public life, and citizens become dependent on the government instead of empowered by opportunity.

Rodriguez will face democratic Congressman Morgan McGarvey in the general election.

One person missing from Saturday night's gathering was outgoing U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell, who was hospitalized in Washington, D.C., last week.

Andy Barr said he had not heard much from the senator, other than a text that said he was doing well.

His team sent their regards to Saturday night's attendees for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Emily Prince.

Thank you so much, Emily, for that.

All Kentucky members of the U.S.

House of Representatives, including some who did not speak on Saturday, are up for reelection in November.

Now, when it comes to Senator McConnell, we reached out to his office today and his spokesperson told us they don't have an update to share.

The 84 year old was admitted to the hospital more than a week ago, and it's unclear if he's still there.

The reason for his stay also hasn't been disclosed.

McConnell is not seeking reelection after serving seven terms in the U.S.

Senate.