JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="wrap_select">
      <span class="select" id="selectdateRange">Today, 25 March, Sun</span>
      <select class="styled" id="dateRange" name="dateRange">
        <option value="25.03.2012">Today, 25 March, Sun</option> // "current"
        <option value="26.03.2012">Tomorrow, 26 March, Fr</option>
        <option value="27.03.2012">27 March, Tu</option>
        <option value="28.03.2012">28 March, We</option>
        <option value="29.03.2012">29 March, Th</option>
      </select>
    </div>

JavaScript

var text = $.trim($('#selectdateRange').text());
var theWinner = $('select option').filter(function() {

    return $(this).text() == text;
}).val();

alert(theWinner);