I don’t know about Kasich, but the fact is that the unions are making a big play for Republican votes. The unions know that the environmental greens have lost control and that if they want jobs, they are going to have to woo the Republicans. The coal lobby still hates the natural gas/petroleum industry, but they hate the Greens more.
There is a big struggle going on within the Democrat Party, unions vs the greens. The unions will go side with whomever makes the best offer.
In WA state, the GOP is siding with the union, on such things as WEA health care and SEIU contracts, as well as the Democrat crony capitalist projects that are designed to funnel money to the Democrat special interests, who turn around and donate the money back to the Democrat Party.
The greens are a big fat zero here in Ohio. A total non-existent factor. “Green” here means having a gas grill vs charcoal.