JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/chosen/1.1.0/chosen.jquery.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/chosen/1.1.0/chosen.css">
<select name="location[]" multiple="multiple" id="location" class="postform">
        <option value="-1">Select a location</option>
        <option class="level-0" value="1">Location A</option>
        <option class="level-0" value="2">Location B</option>
        <option class="level-0" value="3">Location C</option>
    </select>

JavaScript

var arr = ["1", "2"];
jQuery("#location option").each(function () {
    if (jQuery.inArray(jQuery(this).val(), arr) != -1) {
        jQuery(this).prop('selected', true);
    };
});

jQuery("#location").chosen();