Career
Barker ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1913 general election at the Conservative candidate in the Lac Ste. Anne electoral district. He was defeated by Liberal incumbent Peter Gunn in a hotly contested straight fight, losing by only 43 votes.
He attempted another run for a seat in the Legislature in the 1917 Alberta general election, again running in Lac Ste Anne.
The unofficial returns had Liberal candidate winning with a majority of one vote. Early in the counting Ralph Barker had conceded the race to George Barker.
Barker did run for another term at dissolution of the Legislature at dissolution in 1921.