New Hampshire has cherished first-in-the-nation primary for 100 years New Hampshire has been the first state in the United States to hold its primary election since 1920 — although it now comes a week after the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner has set the crucial date for over 40 years, meeting with all the presidential hopefuls who came to his office to put their name on the ballot in the Granite State. "It's very hard to predict New Hampshire, because most New Hampshire voters make up their mind the last week, right now, and the weekend," Gardner tells AFP. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES