JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground
HTML
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8/themes/dot-luv/jquery-ui.css">
<select id="ddlStates">
<option value="0">AA</option>
<option value="0">BB</option>
<option value="0">PA</option>
<option value="0">DD</option>
<option value="0">EE</option>
</select>
JavaScript
$("#ddlStates option:contains('PA')").attr('selected', true);