Assuming the US, the only restrictions for the US presidency on paper is that you are 35 years old, you are a US citizen from birth, and have not previously held the office for two terms.

For local offices it's *generally the same idea, with slight variations on age and sometimes residency.

In actuality it depends on how much money you put in versus how likable you are in general, for all elected offices in the US. Attractive people tend to fair better in elections than unattractive people; people with money tend to fair better than those without; people with strong long-standing (generational) local connections tends to fair better than those without. It also doesn't hurt if you meet with business leaders that would be affected by your position in order to 'make assurances' they won't be restricted or taxed.

To snark your question; the current sitting US president is a convicted felon, whom if it were any other class of person, would be in jail for life without parole. It hasn't seemed to stop him.