Florida will hold its presidential primary on Jan. 31, a decision that is expected to prompt other states to move up their primary and caucus dates.

A special committee made the decision Friday, thwarting efforts by national GOP leaders to push back the nominating process.

Officials in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina have said they'll change their dates to stay ahead of Florida.

Those four states are the only ones allowed to go before March 6 under Republican and Democratic party rules.

One reason Florida chose the date was Missouri's earlier plan for a Feb. 7 primary.

But Missouri Republicans on Thursday decided to hold March caucuses instead of a primary.

STATEMENT FROM RPOF CHAIRMAN LENNY CURRY ON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DATE:

Today, under the authority provided them by Florida statute and their selection by Governor Scott, Speaker Cannon and Senate President Haridopolos, the nine members of the Presidential Preference Primary Date Selection Committee chose January 31st as our state's date. As I have said before, the Republican Party of Florida was always prepared to work with the date selected by those with the legal authority to do so. We appreciate that the Committee engaged in a thorough process. That process included discussion of a range of dates from January 3rd to March 6th or later, so this compromise of January 31st properly reflects the importance Florida will play on the national stage. We look forward to having a great primary, and then hosting a world-class convention for our party's nominee. Florida will be the most important state in our efforts to defeat Barack Obama.

SCGOP Chairman Chad Connelly today issued a statement following Florida's decision to move its primary to January 31, 2012:

"Today's decision by Florida is hugely disappointing and could have been avoided. Rogue states have once again dictated the Presidential nominating calendar. I call on my fellow RNC members and all Republicans to strongly condemn Florida's decision to hold their primary on January 31.

"States who have worked so hard to maintain the nominating calendar should not be penalized and the offenders, including Florida, should lose their entire allocations of delegates at the National Convention. Rules matter and the four traditional early states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina) did everything they could to avoid this unfortunate situation.

"South Carolina's primary date will not be announced today."