Florida city to rename avenue in honor of Venezuelan leader María Corina Machado

Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald on Jan 15, 2026

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MIAMI — The city of Doral, Florida, will rename a section of an avenue in honor of María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who was barred from running in her country’s 2024 presidential election and later awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her long-standing defense of democratic rights.

The resolution to rename Northwest 92nd Avenue as Maria Corina Machado Way was introduced by Venezuelan-American Councilman Rafael Pineyro and co-sponsored by the entire City Council, including Mayor Christi Fraga, Vice Mayor Digna Cabral, and Councilwoman Nicole Reyno, whose husband is Venezuelan. Councilwoman Maureen Porras was absent on maternity leave.

Pineyro told the media that he proposed renaming the avenue after Machado because she represents liberty and justice, not only for Venezuela, but for all people who believe in democracy.

“I think María Corina not only symbolizes the future of Venezuela,” Pineyro said. “She also symbolizes freedom, justice, and liberty—not just for Venezuelans, but as a clear message to Nicaraguans, Cubans and others living under authoritarian regimes.”

In the resolution, Pineyro described Machado as a Venezuelan activist who “has championed democratic principles” by advocating for free and fair elections through non-violent means.

However, the efforts continue amid uncertainty on Venezuela’s political future, particularly following the Jan. 3 military operation in which U.S. forcess captured strongman Nicolás Maduro, leaving Vice President Delcy Rodríguez in control of the government.

While the council session was taking place, Machado was meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Machado emerged as a figure in Venezuelan politics during efforts to challenge first Hugo Chavez and then Maduro’s government, which repeatedly used legal and administrative barriers to sideline opposition candidates. In 2023, she won the opposition’s primary election by a wide margin, but Venezuela’s electoral authorities blocked her from appearing on the ballot for the presidential election.

In the 2024 presidential election, opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia—backed by Machado—claimed victory based on vote tallies collected by the opposition. Several international governments including the U.S. recognized González as the winner, citing evidence that he received more votes than Maduro. Venezuela’s official electoral authorities, however, declared Maduro the victor, triggering an ongoing political standoff.

Despite the setbacks, Machado has continued her advocacy for democratic reform and free elections. However, she has also faced criticism from segments of the Venezuelan diaspora for not being more vocal about U.S. immigration policies affecting Venezuelans, particularly after the revocation of Temporary Protected Status, which left more than 600,000 Venezuelans in the United States at risk of losing legal protections.

In October 2025, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights” and her leadership in the peaceful fight for a democratic transition in Venezuela.

Doral — often described as the most Venezuelan city in the United States, where about 40% ofs residents are of Venezuelan origin— is a majority-Republican city that has nevertheless been deeply affected by Trump-era immigration policies. Many residents, including small business owners and workers, became especially vulnerable after protections such as TPS were revoked in 2025. The situation highlights the complex intersection between local political affiliations and the realities of immigrant communities.

The avenue renaming will apply to Northwest 92nd Avenue between Northwest 25th and 33rd streets, adjacent to Doral Central Park. City officials selected the location because it contains no residential properties, allowing the city to avoid the requirement to obtain signatures from 51% of residents. The stretch is also near the headquarters of the U.S. Southern Command, which has played a role in U.S. operations that resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Mayor Christi Fraga, who has spoken out against immigration policies affecting Venezuelans in the U.S., said renaming the avenue is both a symbolic and lasting honor. She added that the city plans to present Machado with a key to the city once officials are able to meet with her in person.

“It gives me great pleasure to be a small part of bestowing this honor,” Fraga said. “Dedicating a street means that for generations people will recognize her legacy. This is the heart of the Venezuelan exile community in the United States. In the midst of such a difficult struggle in Venezuela, to honor a leader the community identifies with—someone who has helped them persevere—is incredibly meaningful.”