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There are less than 11 weeks until the Iowa caucuses, and for some presidential candidates, Wednesday night's debate could have been the last chance for them to stand out in a crowded Democratic field.

This is already the fifth debate of the campaign season, and it came amid an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Public hearings have been taking place all week in Washington.

Wednesday night's debate took place at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. It was hosted by MSNBC and The Washington Post.

Sanders makes a point at the start of the debate. The independent senator from Vermont, who finished second to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries, said "we cannot simply be consumed by Donald Trump. Because if we are, we are going to lose the election."

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Audience members attend the debate at Tyler Perry Studios.

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Buttigieg and Warren speak during the debate. Buttigieg has recently surged to the top of the polls in Iowa.

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The candidates face the four moderators of the debate: from left, Kristen Welker, Ashley Parker, Andrea Mitchell and Rachel Maddow.

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Biden, the front-runner in national polls, speaks during the debate. During a discussion on sexual violence and harassment against women, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fpolitics%2Flive-news%2Fdemocratic-debate-11-20-2019%2Fh_c5737cfa2009cfd59c4e1ce78d1c18e5" target="_blank">Biden explained that the United States needs to change its culture.</a>

Biden, the front-runner in national polls, speaks during the debate. During a discussion on sexual violence and harassment against women, Biden explained that the United States needs to change its culture.

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Yang and Steyer were the two candidates on stage without government experience.

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According to polls, the top tier right now is comprised of these four candidates: Buttigieg, Warren, Biden and Sanders.

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Booker answers a question during the debate. The senator from New Jersey is among the lower-polling candidates looking for a breakthrough.

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Biden is seen on a television monitor in the media room.

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Harris responds to a question during the debate. At one point she said President Trump is the "greatest threat to the national security of our nation at this moment."

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Buttigieg watches Klobuchar during the debate. The senator from Minnesota was asked about <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fpolitics%2Flive-news%2Fdemocratic-debate-11-20-2019%2Fh_b4ece7aa586b851d6bbbb76162071760" target="_blank">a recent comment she made</a> that a woman with the same kind of experience as Buttigieg would not do as well as the mayor has done in the primary race. "First of all, I have made very clear that I think Pete is qualified to be on this stage and I am honored to be standing next to him," Klobuchar said. "But what I said was true: Women are held to a higher standard."

Buttigieg watches Klobuchar during the debate. The senator from Minnesota was asked about a recent comment she made that a woman with the same kind of experience as Buttigieg would not do as well as the mayor has done in the primary race. "First of all, I have made very clear that I think Pete is qualified to be on this stage and I am honored to be standing next to him," Klobuchar said. "But what I said was true: Women are held to a higher standard."

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This is the fifth Democratic debate of this campaign season. A sixth will take place in Los Angeles next month.

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Warren lambasted wealthy campaign donors receiving ambassadorships. "We are not going to give away ambassador posts to the highest bidder," <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fpolitics%2Flive-news%2Fdemocratic-debate-11-20-2019%2Fh_0eb4faea3f9c6f0e9d1d88d0b7856894" target="_blank">Warren said in her opening remarks.</a>

Warren lambasted wealthy campaign donors receiving ambassadorships. "We are not going to give away ambassador posts to the highest bidder," Warren said in her opening remarks.

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Gabbard <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fpolitics%2Flive-news%2Fdemocratic-debate-11-20-2019%2Fh_68db6b673136fcdced26be17d5951266" target="_blank">slammed the Democratic Party</a> at the debate, accusing Hillary Clinton and other Democrats of having the same views on war as former President George W. Bush and President Donald Trump.

Gabbard slammed the Democratic Party at the debate, accusing Hillary Clinton and other Democrats of having the same views on war as former President George W. Bush and President Donald Trump.

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This was the second debate for Steyer, a billionaire hedge-fund founder who entered the race late. "I'm the only person on this stage who will say that climate is the number one priority for me. It's a state of emergency and I would declare a state of emergency on day one," Steyer said.

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