David was born in 1970 and educated at Bassaleg Comprehensive School in Newport, South Wales.
He worked for British Steel after leaving school and joined the Territorial Army, serving for 18 months as a Gunner with 104 Air Defence Regiment at Raglan Barracks Newport. He also gained an HGV licence and was a continental lorry driver before stepping in to manage the family haulage business.
In 1999, he helped to set up and run the anti-Welsh Assembly campaign. When the Assembly was established he stood for Monmouth on a platform of promising to oppose further powers and standing up for the Union. He was the only Conservative elected to any constituency and in the 2003 election he gained the biggest majority of any Assembly Member from any party.
In 2005, he was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Monmouth. In June 2010, he was elected chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee.
In January 2012, the Prime Minister announced David's appointment as a representative of the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In December 2019, he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Wales Office and an Assistant Government Whip.
In October 2022, David was appointed Secretary of State for Wales by Prime Minister Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP.
David served as a Special Constable with the British Transport Police for several years. He is a keen runner and surfer and has fought in charity boxing matches as 'The Tory Tornado'. He is a former President of the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association.
He is married to Aliz and they have three teenage children.