JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select>
    <option value="yes">Yes</option>
    <option value="no" selected>No</option>
    <option value="maybe">Maybe</option>
</select>

JavaScript

//- Change the currently selected item
$("select").val("maybe");

//- Get the originally selected item
var orig = $("select option").filter(function () {
    return this.defaultSelected;
}).prop("value");

alert("Current value is maybe, Original value was "+ orig)