JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul>
    <li class="parent"><a href="URL" >Main Link</a>
         <ul class="sub-menu">
             <li class="child"><a href="URL" >Link</a></li>
         </ul>
    </li>
</ul>

CSS

.red {
    background-color: red;
}

JavaScript

$('li.child').hover(function() {
   $(this).closest('.parent').addClass('red');
}, function() {
   $(this).closest('.parent').removeClass('red');    
});