The next Democratic debate in September will feature a much smaller group of candidates as many in the crowded field didn't qualify for a spot on the stage.
More than half of the candidates, including San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer, failed to meet requirements that looked at level of support in polls and campaign contributions.
Only Democrats who'd received money from 130,000 donors and registered 2% support in four approved survey will appear at the debate in Houston on September 12. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ended her campaign on Wednesday when she came up short against criteria.
Only 10 candidates made the cut, down from 20 in the first two rounds when the qualifying bar was half as high.
"There's the third debate. Then there's the fourth debate. I'm taking my cue from the voters. I'm taking my cue from how people are on the ground when I'm speaking, how many people are coming to my talks, how much money is coming in," said author Marianne Williamson to KCBS Radio last week before she'd been officially eliminated from the debate. "This train is on a roll."
Like several other candidates, though, Williamson complained that the Democratic National Committee is not recognizing legitimate polls that show her with 2% support.
Steyer is also angry and disappointed, saying the process is unfair.
Trimming the field of those who aren't gaining traction is in the party's interest, according to California Democratic strategist Bill Carrick.
"The principal contenders being on the same stage is something I think that's very positive," said Carrick, alluding to Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren who not previously all debated on the same night.