JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="names">
    <option value="">Please Select</option>
    <option value="1">John</option>
    <option value="2">Steve</option>
    <option value="3">Max</option>
</select>

JavaScript

var list = document.getElementById("names").options;

for(var i = 0; i<list.length; i++){
    if(list[i].text== "Max") {
        list[i].selected = true;
    }
}