Coakley concedes to Baker in governor's race

MEDFORD - Martha Coakley called Charlie Baker at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday and congratulated the Republican on winning the race for governor in Massachusetts, Coakley's campaign adviser Kyle Sullivan said.

Coakley will address supporters at her campaign headquarters in Somerville at 11 a.m., Sullivan told a large gaggle of reporters gathered outside Coakley's home here. According to Coakley campaign adviser Doug Rubin, Coakley told Baker how much she appreciated how he dealt with this tight election and how gracious he was.

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The news of Coakley's conversation with Baker brings an end to one of the closest gubernatorial races in recent Massachusetts history, an election whose outcome stayed in doubt until very early this morning when Baker slowly amassed what became an insurmountable edge over the Democrat.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Baker was leading Coakley 48.4 percent to 46.6 percent, with about 40,000 votes separating the two.

Baker is planning to meet with reporters later Wednesdsay at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, after Coakley speaks.

John R. Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauracrimaldi.