JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground
HTML
<form id="form-to-submit">
<select multiple="true" name="sel" id="sel">
<option id="0_1" value="0">Bacon</option>
<option value="1">Pickles</option>
<option id="0_3" value="2">Mushrooms</option>
<option value="3">Cheese</option>
</select>
</form>
<button id="setValues">Set Values</button>
JavaScript
$("#setValues").click(function() {
$("#sel").find("option").removeAttr("selected");
$("#0_1").attr("selected","selected");
$("#0_3").attr("selected","selected");
});