Incumbent Democrat Mickey Leland died in a plane crash on August 7, 1989 en route to Fugnido, Ethiopia.Hiltzik, Michael A. "Leland crash leaves no survivors." Los Angeles Times at the Boca Raton News. Monday August 14, 1989. 7th year, Issue 144. 1A. Google News 5 of 34. This prompted a special election to be held, which fellow Democrat Craig Washington won in a runoff. He ran for re-election.
