COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina Senate voted 33-8 to remove State Treasurer Curtis Loftis on Monday.

So, what happens next?

Loftis can only be removed if the state house reaches a two-thirds majority vote in favor of Loftis’ removal.

Efforts to remove Loftis stem from a $1.8 billion accounting error Loftis claimed was not his mistake. Following the error and a report into how it happened, the other parties involved resigned.

“Far be it a senator to tell a house member what to do, but the hard work has already been done…. All the information they need is right there,” said Senator Larry Grooms (R – Berkeley).

If the house decides to remove Loftis, he would be the first elected official to ever be removed in state’s history.

Representatives Heather Bauer (D – Richland) and Micah Caskey (R – Lexington) watched the hearing and have opinions on how the house should handle the matter.

“He should be held responsible. I have been raising this red flag for over a year now and to my colleagues in the house they have failed to act on it. So I will continue to do so until he is held accountable,” Bauer said.

“I also heard the treasurer last night expressed contrition and expressed, his regret that we are where we are, and I think that’ll move a lot of people in the house,” said Caskey.

Governor Henry McMaster said before the hearing Loftis should not be removed from office and his stance has not changed.

He said the senate should have spent more time on other bills that should have been passed by now.

“I think we waste a lot of talent and time on something that really ought to be decided by the voters and the treasurer. Treasurer Loftis, I think he’s already announced for reelection. That’s where this ought to be. So let the people decide,” McMaster said.

Senator Jeff Zell was one of the people of voted to keep Loftis in office. He said he didn’t see enough evidence to remove an elected official.

There are only three weeks left in the first of two years of the Legislative session so if the House wants to have a vote of their own, they will need to act fast or wait.