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">
<ul>
        <li id="l1" class="active"><a href="#c1" id="test1">Samp 1</a></li>
        <li id="l2" class=""><a href="#c2" id="test2">Samp 2</a></li>
        <li id="l3" class=""><a href="#c3" id="test3">Samp 3</a></li>
</ul>

JavaScript

var selected = $(".active").children("a").attr("id");
    alert(selected);