diff --git a/src/registrar/forms/domain_request_wizard.py b/src/registrar/forms/domain_request_wizard.py
index fcba68de8..c38eb01a2 100644
--- a/src/registrar/forms/domain_request_wizard.py
+++ b/src/registrar/forms/domain_request_wizard.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ class RequestingEntityForm(RegistrarForm):
         label="State, territory, or military post",
         required=False,
         choices=[("", "--Select--")] + DomainRequest.StateTerritoryChoices.choices,
+        widget=ComboboxWidget,
     )
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/select.html b/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/select.html
index cc62eb91d..86ca4ddcc 100644
--- a/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/select.html
+++ b/src/registrar/templates/django/forms/widgets/select.html
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     {# hint: spacing in the class string matters #}
     class="usa-select{% if classes %} {{ classes }}{% endif %}"
     {% include "django/forms/widgets/attrs.html" %}
+    data-default-value="{% for group_name, group_choices, group_index in widget.optgroups %}{% for option in group_choices %}{% if option.selected %}{{ option.value }}{% endif %}{% endfor %}{% endfor %}"
 >
   {% for group, options, index in widget.optgroups %}
     {% if group %}<optgroup label="{{ group }}">{% endif %}