JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="salesrep" data-theme="a" data-mini="true" name="salesrep">
<option value=""> </option>
<option value="john smith">john smith</option>
<option value="Bruce Jones">Bruce Jones</option>
<option value="Adam Calitz">Adam Calitz</option>
<option>108</option>
</select>

JavaScript

$("#salesrep").val("Bruce Jones");