Ratner practiced law in
Sibley, Iowa, and then in
Parsons, Kansas. In Parsons, he was the
Labette County Attorney from 1923 to 1927. He was elected as a
Republican to the
Kansas Senate in 1929 and also served as state senator from 1937 to 1939. Winning the 1938 Republican gubernatorial nomination and the election, Ratner was sworn in as Governor of Kansas on January 9, 1939. He was reelected in 1940. During his tenure, a department of labor was established, a department of revenue and taxation was organized, the highway commission was given authority over the vehicle department, a teacher's pension plan was implemented, a small permanent building fund for schools was authorized, and the state fire marshal's office, the hotel commission, and the inspector of restaurants were re-established. He left office on January 11, 1943, and retired from politics. In 1962 Ratner was indicted on unethical legal activities; the case was dismissed; and he was cleared of all charges. In 1953 then Teamsters Vice President
Jimmy Hoffa was facing pressure from a Senate subcommittee investigation. On Hoffa's behalf
Barney Baker approached Ratner to intercede with Chairman
Wint Smith. Ratner successfully convinced Smith to ease off investigating Hoffa. ==Antisemitic campaign ==