JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="selDiv">
  <select class="opts">
    <option selected value="DEFAULT">Default</option>
    <option value="SEL1">Selection 1</option>
    <option value="SEL2">Selection 2</option>
  </select>
</div>

JavaScript

var $select = $('.selDiv .opts');
$select.change(function(){
	alert("change");
});
$select.val("SEL2").change();