Jim Cole/AP

The first-in-the-nation primary date has officially been set.  New Hampshire’s primary will take place on Jan. 10,   Secretary of State Bill Gardner announced this morning at a press conference at the state Capitol.

“It’s my honor and privilege to say this morning that the tradition of the New Hampshire primary lives on,” said Gardner.

New Hampshire’s primary date has been the subject of much speculation over the past several weeks. After Nevada announced its caucus would take place Jan 14,  Gardner threatened to move New Hampshire’s primaryto December, to preserve the state’s first-in-the-nation status.  Nevada capitulated to Gardner, however, and moved its caucus date back to Feb. 4.

The announcement is the final piece of the GOP nominating contest puzzle. After much ado, the primary calendar has at last been fixed, with the Iowa caucus taking place seven days before New Hampshire’s primary, and South Carolina’s following 11 days later, on Jan. 21. Florida’s primary will be held Jan. 31.

Gardner praised New Hampshire’s role in presidential nominating contests. “New Hampshire is unpredictable and unscripted,” he told reporters today at the Capitol. “Those moments have shown the rest of the country some insights into a candidate’s character that may have never been made.”