David Fowler, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in accounting. He earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and clerked in the Ohio Court of Appeals. Fowler practiced law for 20 years during which he time he also taught introductory political philosophy at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, and served for 12 years in the Tennessee state senate. After leaving office he worked with leaders from across the state to form the Family Action Council of Tennessee, a pro-family advocacy group of which he is currently president. He is married and he and his wife have one adult daughter. He currently resides in the greater Nashville area.