Maddie McGarvey for CNN Democratic presidential candidates take part in a debate in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 19. The candidates, from left, are businessman Andrew Yang; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; US Sen. Elizabeth Warren; former Vice President Joe Biden; US Sen. Bernie Sanders; US Sen. Amy Klobuchar; and businessman Tom Steyer. In pictures: The Democratic debate in Los Angeles

Maddie McGarvey for CNN Democratic presidential candidates take part in a debate in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 19. The candidates, from left, are businessman Andrew Yang; South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; US Sen. Elizabeth Warren; former Vice President Joe Biden; US Sen. Bernie Sanders; US Sen. Amy Klobuchar; and businessman Tom Steyer.

It was the final Democratic debate of 2019, and it was also the smallest.

Only seven presidential candidates took the stage Thursday night at Loyola Marymount University. More than that missed the cut; the Democratic National Committee has been steadily raising the polling and fundraising thresholds needed to make each debate.

Thursday's debate was hosted by PBS and Politico and simulcast on CNN. It came just one day after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump.