David Lujan was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1965. His father was a high school math teacher and his mother a stay-at-home mom. He graduated from Washington High School in Phoenix and then attended Arizona State University where he obtained his Bachelors Degree in Marketing and then a Juris Doctorate from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

In his professional career, David has worked for the federal government prosecuting unfair labor practices; in private practice handling employment and family law matters; as an Assistant Attorney General representing the State of Arizona on school finance issues; as a staff attorney for the State Senate Judiciary Committee; and as an attorney for the nonprofit Defenders of Children where he led a statewide legal services program for victims of child abuse and domestic violence.

David has also been elected to public office multiple times. He served eight years on the school board for the Phoenix Union High School District; three terms in the Arizona House of Representatives; and one term in the Arizona Senate. In his final term in the Arizona House of Representatives, he was selected by his peers as the House Democratic Leader.

In 2016, David joined the nonprofit advocacy organization Children’s Action Alliance where he launched a new subsidiary organization, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, and served as its first Director. In 2020, he was elevated to the role of President and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance. In 2023, David was appointed by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to be the Director of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. David is currently the Executive Director of the Arizona School for the Arts located in central Phoenix serving students in grades 5 through 12.

David has an adopted son Joey, who is married to Maureen , and they have two children, Bentley and Juliet.